China vs. South Africa: Cost of Living Comparison

For anyone relocating to a new city, one huge consideration to consider when relocating anywhere is what it will cost to live comfortably in a new place. For South Africans living and working in China, China is considerably better than back home at the moment. The exchange rate for 1 RMB is currently about 1.7 R (South African Rand) and the currency exchange has been relatively stable over the last five years.

Here is a comparison of transportation, internet and data, groceries, utilities, and rent between Shanghai in China and Pretoria back home in South Africa.

I did this comparison as an expat living on an English teacher's salary. I use Pretoria as a comparison as it was my home city for a long time before going overseas, so remember that whereas Shanghai is considered a first-tier city in China based on population, Pretoria is considered a second-tier city in South Africa based on economic health. Also keep in mind that the difference in currency doesn't equal the value of certain things, especially in relation to one's salary overseas.

As the main form of transport for many people, the average price of filling up a small car in Pretoria may cost anything from 800-2500 R in the city, depending on the distance traveled. There is no need to buy a car in Shanghai, as public transport is well planned and accessible, affordable, clean and safe, and often the preferred method of travel by expats. Taking the subway to work every day will cost you around 200 RMB (400 R) per month.

Taxis are more expensive, costing from 20-100 RMB per trip, depending on the distance covered. However, they are considerably safer and more reliable than shared taxis in South Africa.

Currently, internet and data are still substantially cheaper than the internet in the rest of the world (but not always faster). Unlimited bandwidth with China Telecom will cost around 1,000 RMB (2,000 R) per year and installing a router will be about 150 RMB. In Pretoria, costs are around 1,000 R monthly. Data will cost about 100-250 RMB per month (200-500 R), whereas in South Africa, it will be around 500-1,000 R.

On average, it will cost around 2,000 R a week to buy groceries for two people in Pretoria. However, this depends on your diet and lifestyle. Groceries are cheaper in China (approximately 800 R for two people) if you buy at local convenience stores. If you shop at international markets, the costs will work out roughly the same as buying at Pick ‘n Pay back home.

In a country where utilities are state-owned, the cheap cost of utilities in China far outweighs everything else on this list. Water, electricity, and gas combined cost around 200 RMB (400 R) per month for me, and sometimes it is even less. In high winter or summer, prices will go up because of heating and air conditioning. For two people it could go up to 500 RMB. In South Africa, the cost is 1,000 R per month for two people in a two-bedroom apartment.

Shanghai caters to approximately 24 million people with zero load-shedding or blackouts. The downsides are the air pollution and that tap water is not safe for drinking, though it can be used for bathing and cooking. Buying water will cost extra but not that much.

Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Hatfield, Pretoria will start at around 3,600 R per month and go up to 8,000 R in the eastern suburbs. In Shanghai, rent is quite expensive and is getting more expensive, largely due to Shanghai's status as a cosmopolitan and world city. Second and third-tier cities' rent is half of what you would pay in Shanghai, which can range from around 1,500 RMB for a bedroom in a shared apartment, to 4,000 RMB (8,000 R) for a one-bedroom apartment in the inner city (still affordable on an English 1 salary). Here, I focus on rent in the city centre as many English 1 teachers will rent closer to work. However, renting further away will be much cheaper if you are willing to do a longer commute.

As a single person living in Shanghai, I find that I can save around 4,000-4,500 RMB per month (around 9,000 R). This is my personal savings goal - not always easy to achieve - but feasible. Roughly 25,000 RMB of my total savings might go towards planned international travel this year.

As the RMB has more value than the Rand, I would say I can really stretch my budget. I consider myself a frugal person, even though the cost of living in Shanghai is easier to manage than in South Africa.

Interested in learning more about China and working opportunities with English 1? Check out their job openings!