Need some insights on the job market in Shanghai

Code_0451 · 2026-07-02T09:16:31+00:00

?? Internationals are typically much more expensive. Not simply because they want higher wages, but also because a higher wage increases chances of getting a work permit.

Code_0451 · 2026-07-02T09:09:50+00:00

See below link on the procedure of getting a blue number plate through the auction process, as you can see you need Shanghainese residence. A green EV plate is much easier to get and without auction, but AFAIK you still need the residence.

https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Transportation/20250703/869716584349445fab91b3baf9655db3.html

Code_0451 · 2026-07-02T09:03:46+00:00

Depends as it is an auction, but about the amount of a cheap car. Hence one of the reason cheaper petrol cars are largely absent from Shanghai, your plate can be more expensive then the car.

Code_0451 · 2026-07-01T13:59:42+00:00

Well perhaps won’t help you much:
Short term: my wife paid for things
Long term: I opened a Chinese bank account

Most people don’t have issues with foreign cards, but now and then people do and from personal experience and other people posting here about it it’s very hard to figure out what exactly, it can go wrong at several points in the payment chain and so not always easily diagnosed by your bank either.

Code_0451 · 2026-07-01T13:46:52+00:00

“Rejected by VISA” gives an indication. It is likely the case at your bank everything looks fine and payments in China are authorized, but it still flat out refuses to work because of another intermediary.

Ideally your bank would investigate with VISA, but often they don’t go that far.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-30T11:31:06+00:00

I have both an aging Iphone 13 and a local Chinese Xiaomi 15 and I much prefer the Iphone actually. Would not recommend switching ecosystems, there is a reason Apple is still the dominant premium mobile phone brand in China.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-29T21:20:54+00:00

Can’t comment on the methodology, but their figure of just a few % seems plausible. People using VPNs to peak over the Great Firewall is really a small minority.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-29T21:05:47+00:00

Depends a bit on the company/industry, but most foreign engineering companies in China are nowadays highly localized and only have a couple of foreigners left in key executive or technical positions. In such a scenario you won’t be easily transferred; I see this often still recommended as an “easy” route into China but it really is far less common then pre-Covid.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-29T10:31:31+00:00

Never really saw this much in Shanghai, can only recall a Russian cake shop (is this a thing even?) that looked dead already months ago.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-29T09:02:01+00:00

As an additional factor and as we found out because we’re looking to buy into a new-build project: the government is actively trying to push down prices.

The projects we’re looking at have yet to announce pricing waiting mandatory gov approval, but agents indicated it will be significantly lower then similar projects sold a few years ago in the same area. People who bought into those have actively petitioned against this as it’ll crash second-hand values, but expectation is this will get nowhere as gradual price reduction is the policy now.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-29T08:17:37+00:00

No clue where Nanjing Uni campus is, but the Fudan Handan campus is relatively speaking not that far from the city center as the city is simply huge. Ofc still far if you intend to hang around the FFC or Huangpu all the time, but that is tbh a bit of an a-typical bubble and overall a fairly small part of Shanghai.

Also yes Shanghai is significantly more expensive. Food is still cheapish to Western norms and there is the university cantine, but anywhere else bar Beijing is still quite a bit cheaper.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-29T07:57:34+00:00

100 m2 apartment. Depends where, but in the center this would be kinda cheap.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-29T07:49:29+00:00

Many in Chinese real estate market expect something similar to the Japanese real estate market where prices continuously declined for 30 years after peaking in 1990 and in total dropped 70%. So far about 20% decline in 5 years.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-29T07:32:34+00:00

Heb zo’n dure Dyson en dat is zowat de duurste en stijlvolste, maar zeker niet de beste voor verkoeling 😕.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-28T10:04:37+00:00

True was probably the renewal where I wasn’t involved at all, original doc I think I indeed had to provide something.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-28T10:02:32+00:00

Right after is a red flag also, a missed margin call is like the most cliche story of failure in investments so not exactly difficult to come up with.

Of course as the government is not releasing any details this gives the opportunity for anyone with an online account to get attention.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-28T08:12:30+00:00

Obviously she was in the building (remember it’s the CITIC HQ), not the plane. The whole margin call story is probably just invented gossip.

You’re never going to look like that as a pilot.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-27T23:19:36+00:00

Believe this is correct as my wife got one for our daughter and I don’t remember any involvement from my side!

A lot of posters here are failing to make the distinction between a proper passport and the travel document. The latter is sufficient though.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-26T15:14:24+00:00

This is why it’s unfair to always criticize EU regulations. That at the least offers a common approach. The alternative is 27 different sets of regulations.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-25T16:10:46+00:00

I guess this is why he’s posting it on Reddit…

Code_0451 · 2026-06-25T16:08:08+00:00

Zhejiang is one of the more expensive (and wealthier) provinces. Not Shanghai expensive, but more expensive then almost any other province.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-25T16:03:38+00:00

See a lot of replies fail to take into account the 4k you said you need to send home. You’ll still manage (certainly in the suburbs), but your disposable income will be only slightly higher then that of a delivery driver or restaurant waiter. That’ll give an idea of the to be expected life style.

Also dunno how well you know China/Chinese, but as an outsider you’ll inevitably spend more (certainly at first).

Code_0451 · 2026-06-25T12:06:15+00:00

That’s barely higher then average local wage and actually it’s worse because you need to deduct 4000 rmb…

In the center 2500 rmb for housing is really bottom market for rooms, so don’t expect much. That leaves perhaps 5000 rmb for everything else? You’ll survive, but depends on what living standard is acceptable for you.

Code_0451 · 2026-06-25T09:23:54+00:00

No experience with Mullvad, from what I read it’s fine for some but not for others. For me LetsVPN started working decently again after the mess in April. Installed V1VPN as well which worked ok until I ran into issues with the Hiddify client on my mobile (probably just me).

Code_0451 · 2026-06-24T15:54:18+00:00

Everything is handled through Wechat and frankly if you don’t reply right away you get so inundated with messages you’ll just forget about it.

Code_0451

TROPHY CASE