10RMB = £1 (approx)
We realised after our first year in China just what potential there is for saving money whilst still maintaining a good quality of life. The cost of living can be cheap if you want it to be, of course it can also be expensive too.
Working for Buckland affords us a comfortable life and also allows us the chance to save money each month. Compared to life in the UK where every penny we earned was spent on bills and paying off our mortgage.
On a 5000RMB per month salary it is possible to save 3500RMB per month.
We can save more money here whilst only working part time hours. Here's how: (Of course this is completely subjective to your life style and location)!
Eating in the canteen.
The average cost of a meal in the canteen is usually 5RMB each (£0.50) and consists of a number of choice dishes. Typically there are six different dishes available which you select and are served upon a tray. The more you want then the more it costs. Rice and a single choice is 3.5RMB (£0.35). I usually have three choices which can cost up to 7.5RMB (£0.75) with rice but always depends upon who is serving.
The dishes available are usually among the following:
- Egg and tomato
- Tofu
- Spiced cauliflower
- Celery with meat
- Spiced cabbage
- Meat with a vegetable
- Potato
A complimentary soup is also available and both the rice and soup are buffet style allowing as much or as little as required.
The canteen is open six days a week until approximately 10pm and when living on campus is an extremely convenient place to eat.
The lunch and dinner menu vary slightly with noodles being available at dinner (5RMB) and snacks such as chips, barbecue and pancakes in the evening.
When the canteen is closed street food is usually the desired option. Three bowls of stir fry food and rice is plenty for two people at a cost of 7RMB a dish. Rice is complimentary.
It is quite easy for one person to eat well all week for 100RMB (£10)
A trip to the Pizza restaurant however can cost 70RMB for one pizza!
Utility bills can be expensive if you are using your air-con all day every day for example but this does not have to be the case. Buckland pay 200RMB towards utility bills per month which is usually enough although we have at times exceeded this and have therefore been responsible for the additional cost. We have experienced both living on campus and off and both differ drastically.
There are many pros and cons for living on and off campus but here just the costs have been considered. In this case on campus is definitely a plus for saving money!
On campus
- Electricity - No charge
- Water (mains) - No charge
- Water (Drinking) - No charge
- Gas - N/A
- Internet Wifi - No charge
- Electricity - 350RMB (Most expensive month)
- Water (mains) - No charge
- Water (Drinking) - 7RMB Bottle 8.9L
- Gas - 150RMB
- Internet Wifi - No charge
There are many supermarkets to choose from as well as street vendors and shops. Household goods and toiletries are mostly available from the supermarket as long as you are not worried about brand choice. Shampoo for example can be found with English writing on it which helps but isn't necessarily the cheapest or best. Where a bottle of Head and Shoulders or Loreal might cost 45RMB a Chinese brand could easily be half the cost. Learning a little Mandarin and a bit of common sense can take you far.
Street vendors
These can be great for items like vegetables or meat however having never tried the meat from such an outlet I cannot comment on it. It's exposed fresh outside all day after-all! The vegetables and fruit on the other hand we have had plenty without any diverse consequence. Just remember to either cook it well or wash it clean first. Only use either boiled or bottled water though!
2 Leeks, 3 carrots and 4 potatoes cost 4.5RMB. Cheap!
Cigarettes
We all have our vices and in China they can be exploited very cheaply. If your a smoker then this is a great place to live. A packet of cigarettes usually costs between 3 - 6RMB for a Chinese brand and Marlborough are 15RMB. As smoking is probably the most common social action that occurs then there is a lot of stigma associated with it. The Chinese love VIP status and this can be reflected in their choice of cigarettes. The most expensive packet I have seen costs 200RMB!
Beer
Local beers made from sweetcorn are very cheap. You can usually pay 8 - 10 RMB for a 600ml bottle from a bar however from the supermarket it will cost 3.5RMB. Branded beers are more expensive for less quantity. Budweiser is 25RMB 250ml bottle from a bar again. Tuborg is very popular and is a nice beer. Bar prices are 8 - 10RMB for 500ml bottle.
Some makes of beer: Tuborg, 2008, SNOW, Harbin, Tsingtao and Liquan.
Bijou
Bijou wine is also very popular and consumed by most men and some women. A cheap bottle will cost 10RMB however Moutai Bijou (Best make) will cost considerably more perhaps 45RMB. Be warned this wine is typically between 51 and 58% in alcohol!
Red and white wine
As in Britain wine prices vary here also. The cheapest red is about 25RMB and a nice bottle of Great Wall is about 125RMB. From experience you get what you pay for!
Going out versus staying in.
Going out
Bars are popular and more often becoming a little more western like in their layout. (open plan) They all usually have background music, soft furnishings and a good selection of beers although not many dark beers. (see above) Spirits are also rare unless used in cocktails. Wanting a few shots of Jack Daniels involves buying the whole bottle. 450RMB!
KTV is hugely popular and great fun. Unlike the UK it is conducted in privately hired rooms for any size party. The cheapest can be from as little as 80RMB for the evening and, from experience, up to 550RMB however this was during a national holiday and did include 550RMB worth of beer.
Cinema
Many cinemas play English and American movies as well as Chinese and cost around 25RMB each.
Restaurant
This is extremely varied and can cost as little as 7RMB per bowl up to, well.....
Parks are a great way to spend some time. They are always busy with dancing groups and vendors and It is possible to amble around a park and sit and relax for any number of hours. There is usually some kind of children's activity happening or men playing Majhong for example. Cost 0RMB
Staying in
Chinese TV is cheap and (I imagine) quite varied however as a non Chinese speaker it is not an option.
DVD's are cheap with up to ten films available on two discs for 10RMB.
Social media is as popular in China as it is any where in the world however sites such Facebook and Twitter are not allowed. The Chinese alternatives is QQ and although it has a built in translator it always changes your messages. At times this can quite funny. Youtube is also unavailable and replaced with Youku. To access Facebook or Youtube a VPN Proxy Server is required. (Download before going to China)
Transport
Public transport is a must unless you either have a bike or a driving license. To cross town in a taxi can be between 5 - 10RMB. If Tuk tuks are used in your town (Some towns they are banned) then they will be a cheaper option around 6RMB. Motorbike taxis are also similar in cost to car taxis although restricted in luggage options. (also banned in some towns) That said I have carried two very large bags with Mel on the back of one.
Buses are cheap transport and you can travel for an hour for as little as about 20RMB.
Trains are also quite cheap but a lot slower than buses. A 12 hour train journey can cost 250RMB.
Bicycles are the most convenient method but it is imperative you learn the highway code. That is: Go where ever you please, any way you please at any time you please! Cost 0RMB.