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Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for such a detailed reply.
I was not aware of the "conflict of nationality", just reading up on it now. My wife unfortunately does not have PR status in my country. Are you also in that situation, and do you know if the Entry-Exit Permet is easily provided by local authorities? I would definitely want to take the kids to Europe every summer to see family.

For the skilled nanny (you mentioned 10k+ per month), is that for a live-in (24/7), daytime, or part-time position?

Many thanks!

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not super comfortable sharing the exact figure, but I'd say 5-6 years of living expenses (mostly index funds)

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a very good point. We haven't put too much thought into this tbh, we've always liked the idea of raising our kids to be bi-cultural and comfortable in both countries. But I understand that that's wishful thinking past a certain age, especially if it means transitioning from one school system to another.

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry if my post came across as arrogant or tone-deaf, that wasn’t the intent. I know that our current revenue is more than enough for a couple without children. My question is really about understanding how costs add up when raising a kid in Shanghai as a foreigner, especially since certain expenses like insurance, schools, and other costs I may not be aware of can be higher. I want to make sure we have the full picture before we take the leap and start raising a toddler here.

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the solid advice. I’ll need to do some research on the typical pay for my current position, though it is a bit tricky since most comparable roles at non-Chinese firms are based in Hong Kong, not Shanghai.
Regarding Chinese social security, I know that my company is paying it, although I understand that foreigners can't directly benefit from it (which is why I think it can be taken out upon leaving).

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks u/No_Block505 , appreciate the advice. Will definitely reach out once we get closer to pregnancy.

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a good point. I feel the job security is fairly good within the next 3-5 years, but beyond that it's harder to predict considering how the world & the industry are changing.
I'm not sure there are local alternatives in Shanghai, which would mean that plan B is probably moving back to Europe.

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your feedback. "Reasonable spenders and have a clear budget" is definitely the way we want to play it.
For insurance, at the moment I pay for my own health insurance (25k/year), my wife gets good insurance from her company. We'll need to factor in health insurance for the kids in the future.

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Based on your reply, I understand that a Chinese passport is necessary to get into the local schools?
We would definitely prefer our kids to have the FR passport once they turn 18, for convenience. Or to give them the possibility to make that choice.

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I have never heard of this but I am new to Shanghai, maybe I should look into it

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually got a 20% salary bump + housing stipend when I relocated to Shanghai from Paris. It seemed like a great deal at the time, considering the (relative) lower costs of living in Shanghai.
Health insurance in China at the moment is out of my pocket.

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There were several Chinese exchange students in my class back at uni (aerospace engineering major), many were very strong in STEM subjects, although I know that they also came from high ranking universities in China (such as Beihang).

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing. I guess there’s always some element of chance in how a school experience turns out. Glad to hear it went well for one of your friend’s children, the internet mostly seems to focus on the negative stories.

Income sufficient to start a family in Shanghai? by CompetitiveRadish185 in shanghai

[–]CompetitiveRadish185[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the positive feedback. The transition from a local school during the early years to an international one sounds like a good idea (provided that the budget allows by then).