FINANCE - Living Abroad in Beijing - page 275

non-working population. A total monthly budget of RMB4,000-6,000 (excluding university
fees) should allow you to enjoy a university lifestyle that includes cafés and nightlife, inter-
spersed with the occasional f ā ngbiànmiàn (instant noodles).
For the locally employed single living in the inner city, life can a little more expensive.
If you live in a Chinese-style apartment, eat predominantly at home or in local Chinese res-
taurants, and only occasionally splurge with a fine-dining dinner or shopping spree, you
could get by on a net income of RMB7,000-10,000. This won't allow you to save much
money, and if you plan to save for an annual trip home you'll really need to count your máo.
If your salary exceeds RMB13,000 per month you'll feel much more comfortable and you
should start to have some money to spare.
If you're an executive in the inner city and enjoy a New York shade of lifestyle, then en-
sure you have a job that pays you RMB20,000 net and above. This figure will allow you to
live in a modern apartment, shop without too much stress, have taxis as your primary mode
of transportation, and frequent Beijing's chic suit and frock establishments.
For families, a real lifestyle change will be required if you're not coming in under the
wing of your company. Many local one-child families get by on a combined monthly in-
come of RMB20,000-30,000. This covers a local way of life and local government schools.
For most international families of four living in one of the villas in Shunyi, a salary of that
level is not even going to cover accommodations. With a three-bedroom villa, international
school fees for two kids, an ā yí, a driver, groceries, and utilities alone, you'll be looking
at a budget of around RMB70,000 per month. In fact, total monthly expenses might easily
work out to be RMB90,000-100,000.
HOUSING
If you're aware of Hong Kong housing prices, don't let them give you a false impression of
Beijing. On the contrary, homes in the mainland capital are generally very spacious, rarely
attract a “shoebox” description, and are still often much cheaper than equivalent apartments
in other international cities. According to UBS's survey, for example, a furnished four-bed-
room apartment suited to someone in middle management, in an area of the city favored
by such a person, would cost US$14,100 per month in New York, US$6,940 in Chicago,
US$14,490 in Hong Kong, but only US$2,500 (RMB15,600) in Beijing.
If your company has you covered for your accommodations, this will probably translate
into a very comfortable, fully furnished apartment or house in a security complex that's situ-
ated in a key expat part of town, such as Sanlitun, Shuangjing, Central Park, Lido, or Shun-
yi. For the locally employed, however, these numbers will be of little value. It's generally