Below are examples of how much you could expect to spend in Suzhou each month:
Lixiao lives in international halls and lives on a budget, for example, only eats Chinese food from the university canteen, doesn’t participate in nightlife, and occasionally takes the bus or metro into the old town.
| EXPENSE | APPROXIMATE EXPENDITURE (RMB) |
|---|---|
| Rent | 2,200 |
| Utilities | 200 |
| Food | 800 |
| Transport | 50 |
| Luxuries | 0 |
| Total monthly | 3,250 |
| Holidays | Lixiao isn’t keen on luxuries when he’s travelling. He travels by train and stays in youth hostels. |
| Cost of a week-long holiday | Total cost: 1,000-2,000 Hotel/night: 10-50 Tickets: <200/day Food: <40/day |
Sami lives in international halls and lives on a budget during the week, but occasionally treats himself to food from a nicer restaurant. He participates in nightlife once a month. He normally takes the bus but takes a taxi three or four times a month.
| EXPENSE | APPROXIMATE EXPENDITURE (RMB) |
|---|---|
| Rent | 2,200 |
| Utilities | 300 |
| Food | 2,000 |
| Transport | 300 |
| Luxuries | 1,000 |
| Total monthly | 5,800 |
| Holidays | Sami doesn’t like to spend a lot of money, but likes the odd luxury. Bed instead of seat on the train. Generally stays in hostels or cheap hotels. |
| Cost of a week-long holiday | Total cost: 3,000-5,000 Hotel/night: 180-300 Tickets: 200-500/day Entry tickets: 120/day Food: 100/day |
David lives the expat lifestyle normally eating in Western restaurants and participating in nightlife. He owns an e-bike and takes occasional taxis.
| EXPENSE | APPROXIMATE EXPENDITURE (RMB) |
|---|---|
| Rent | 3,000 |
| Utilities | 500 |
| Food | 3,000 |
| Transport | 300 (+2,000 for purchasing e-bike) |
| Luxuries | 2,000 |
| Total monthly | 8,800 |
| Holidays | David likes to be comfortable, only stays in four star hotels and usually travels by plane. |
| Cost of a week-long holiday | Total cost: 8,000-10,000 Hotel/night: 700-900 Tickets: 500-900/day Entry tickets: 120/day Food: 300/day |
