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Cost of Living

Ningbo is an inexpensive city. Here is an overview of the typical monthly costs. There are two categories, "Expat" and "Budget". The first category is for people whose companies pay for their expenses. The second is for people who pay their own expenses, or who will have a second or third home in Ningbo. All prices are in Chinese yuan renminbi, and are per month unless specified otherwise. For help relocating to Ningbo, check our Expat Services section.

	Expat	Budget	Comment
Apartment	4500-6500	1800-2500	"Expat" rent is for around 150 m2 and "Budget" is for around 60 m2. Usually one month's rent as a deposit. Pay 60% of the first month's rent as a commission to the agent.
Apartment Management Fee	100-250	30-100	Varies wildly depending on the apartment. Buildings with elevators cost more.
Mobile Phone Usage	300	150	Of course, this will vary. Cost of a mobile phone is 1500-3000 (new) or 150-300 (secondhand)
Landline Phone	25	25	Some people don't need landline phones.
Internet	80	80	Highspeed DSL.
Food (cook at home)	500	300	This is for standard food available at supermarkets. Imported foreign food is more expensive.
Ayi (maid/cook)	35/day	25/day	An Ayi is very convenient. She will clean, wash clothes, and, if you want, cook a meal. Twice a week is OK, but every day is very nice.
Electricity	400-1000	100-400	Cheaper in cool months, more expensive in hot or cold months. How comfortable do you want to be?
Gas	20	20	For cooking and hot water.
Water	30	20	For showering and washing. Drinking water is ¥10-15 for a 5-gallon bottle.
Local Television	14	14	Not satellite TV, but regular Chinese channels. Antennas not used.
Car	150,000-300,000	N/A	For a new car. Used car is less.
Driver	4000-6000	N/A	A local driver who knows the area.
Gasoline/Insurance	Unknown	N/A
Taxis	400	400	The price of two ¥10 taxi rides, 5 days every week.
Restaurant meal	70-150 per person per meal	30-80	Foreign food is more expensive than local restaurants.
TOTAL PER MONTH	6500-10000	3000-5000	Does not include one-time expenses.