Cost of living
Housing
Beijing has a range of housing with rent ranging from a few hundred US dollars per month for basic apartments to several thousand US dollars (or more) per month for houses. Popular among expats are housing developments outside of the city centre which offer Western-style mansions with gardens. Shanghai has only limited individual private houses in the Puxi area, most new housing developments are in Pudong near the American School. Nearer to the city centre and the Bund, luxury high rise apartments with full facilities such as swimming pool, gym and clubhouse are popular.
Shanghai’s private houses in the Puxi area are mostly concentrated in the Hongqiao and Hu Qing Ping area near the Shanghai Amercian School. Popular housing developments in Pudong are mainly in Jinqiao area near the Dulwich international School and Concordia International School. Expats who prefer to live in apartments have a good choice of decent quality apartments near the Lujiazui area, such as the Yanlord and Shimao Riviera development. Nearer to city centre and the Bund, luxury high rise apartments with full facilities such as swimming pool, gym and clubhouse are popular.
Real estate agents include:
Beijing
www.beijingrealestates.com
www.joneslanglasalle.com.cn/en-gb/
www.savills-china.com
Shanghai
www.shanghai-realty.com
www.cpcproperty.com
www.ark-shanghai.com
www.realtyinshanghai.com
Schooling
The growing number of international schools in China charge higher fees than many schools in Western countries. School fees can be as high as US$20,000 per year and more for the higher grades. There are less expensive options and some parents considering bilingual Chinese and English education for their children can look at local schools such as Fang Cao Di.
Beijing
www.aisb.cn Australian International School Beijing
www.bsb.org.cn British School of Beijing
www.fcd.com.cn Fang Cao Di Primary School
www.harrowbeijing.cn Harrow International School Beijing
www.isb.bj.edu.cn International School of Beijing
www.ycis-bj.com Yew Chung International School of Beijing
www.msb.edu.cn/ International Montessori School of Beijing
www.wab.edu Western Academy of Beijing
Shanghai
International
www.ciss.com.cn Concordia International School
www.dulwichcollege.cn Dulwich College International School
www.ssis.cn Singapore International School
www.sachina.org Shanghai American School
www.ycef.com Yew Chung international School of Shanghai
Bi-lingual
www.xieheedu.net Xiehe Bilingual School
www.hsjcgj.pudong-edu.sh.cn international Division, Jincai High School
Kindergarten
Most of the international schools listed above have kindergartens.
Others include:
www.victoria.edu.hk Shanghai Victoria Kindergarten
www.montersorrisos.com. Montersorri School of Shanghai
www.little-eton.com Little Eton Bilingual Kindergarten
www.cwikin.com china Welfare Institution Kindergarten