Is this a good expat package in China ? Is it worth moving my family to Shanghai for ?

Hey Gianluca,

You didn't state what field of work the offer is for, so its hard to say if the offer is appropriate.RMB 360,000 per year is what someone working in finance.

However, what I can say is that you are quite lucky that you have been made an offer with so many perks. While the Chinese economy weathered the recession as well and comapnies continured to hire expats, cuts have been made and expat employment packages are not as good as they once were. Its quite rare to to get an accommodation allowance and schools fees made for these days.

The accommodation allowance your getting is fairly decent. A 2 bedroom furnished apartment costs around RMB 10,000. School fees will cost at least RMB 12,000 per child. 

Check out the Salaries for expats in China page for a more detailed overview. 

Take it with both hands. In general that is very good with the exception of the housing which is a tad on the low side depending on the number of bedrooms needed. FYI - I live in Beijing and have been in China since 1998

Yes, it is good. You basically have 30,000RMB/month spending money since everything else is coverred. A Chinese average salary is about 4,500RMB/month and from thet he/shae has to pay everything including the rent and schooling. Most Expats though would not be happy with standard Chinese housing. The 12,000rmb/month is a bit iffy but that depends on how many bedrooms you need.

my package is still in negotation. Could you suggest district\area\compound, where i can found more expat families with kids? thanks a lot. gianluca

Hi Gianluca,

I think you'll find lots of living options in the MinHang District where your office is based. There are many excellent schools in the area and the standard of accommodation is good and suitable for those with kids.

To read more about other neighbourhoods. Check out the Areas and Suburbs of Shanghai page.

Good luck,

Shantalie :)

12000/month for housing with a family of 3 kids is very low by itself. If you want to leave close/among other expats you need at least 20-30000. And add the cost of electricity (at least 1000/month if not more. Food is expensive too. As for school, are the fees capped ?

If the salary is good or not really depends on your background and position. It is not bad, but expat salaries in Shanghai can go much higher than this. The most valuable part is the international education for your children. This can easily cost 20000 USD per year in Shanghai, do however check which schools they cover first. The housing allowance is not great, but assuming you have only one child should get you an ok apartment. For a family of more than three, you will probably have to spend more.

school costs are much higher for international schools, like over 200,000rmb per year. the housing allowance is low. I get 24,000 and found it difficult to get something the wife would be comfortable in under budget.

Your housing and school allowance are both on the very low end. Good luck to find anything decent with that housing allowance for family of 5. Average int'l school is RMB200,000/yr excluding any after school activities. Food is also more expensive especially if you want to get any western style food, e.g. cheese. I live on the west coast of the US and just returned from Shanghai in March. EVERYTHING is more expensive there. The biggest question you and your family need to ask is: are you OK with the quality of living in Shanghai? If you are used to outdoor activities, quiet living, you are not going to get it. You also have to monitor air quality.

Hi Gianluca, I am in the same condition as you are. What about car and car driver?