Cost of housing and schooling in China

Can you be a little more specific, China's actually a massive country ;) Though, I'm going to go ahead and assume that you're moving to either Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou - most expats do.

When it comes to schooling and housing, try your best to organise an allowance or stipend from your boss - both are incredibly expensive, and you'll need to make sure your salary's inflated enough to cover costs and make your move worthwhile.

In Beijing, the cost of housing directly releates to your proximity to the city centre. The closer you are, the more expensive the housing will be. As you move farther away (use ring roads as boundary markers) the price drops. Though if you have kids, you'll likely want to consider living or working close to their schools. The same goes for Shanghai.

The cost of international schools can rival the cost of a year at university in your home country, the most expensive peaking at 200,000 RMB. Alternatively, private Chinese bilingual schools tend to be slightly more affordable. Also, costs rise as your child gets older. Thus you can expect to pay much less for your three year old, than you would for your 15 year old. You'll have to consult schools individuall for tuition fees.

For more specific housing costs consult this page - Accommodation in Beijing.

Thank you for your answer. That's true it's a big country. I will go to Dalian, that's why i would like to know the average prices for schools and housing. Regards,

Well, the Dalian international school charges 150,000 RMB for secondary school aged children; while the Dalian Maple Leaf Foreign National School charges just over 15,600 USD (but only goes to grade 9). I think the first thing you must decide is what kind of curriculum you want for your children. To get a better idea of what's available in China - check out the Schools in China page.

Ok, thank you. Do you know the average prices for renting an apartment ( 2 or 3 bedrooms, 2 restrooms)??

How much rent will one need to pay for a serviced one bedroom apartment in Guanzhou in an expat area? Vivek