| Jian Shuo, let me correct your conclusion "living the U.S. way in Shanghai is much more expensive than living the U.S. way in U.S.". The correct conclusion should be " living the AVERAGE U.S standard in Shanghai is more expensive than in the US". Coz if you live like the rich people in the US, Shanghai is cheap in every way.
Let me explain, of course living US way in Shanghai is more expensive, because by average US standard, it means getting above average in Shanghai. Decent house in US = Best house in Shanghai. Decent location in the US = Best Location in Shanghai, thats what I noticed and thats what my expat friends tell me. They all live in the best areas of Shanghai, one lives in Huai Hai Road Middle, fully furnished (very nice furnitures) and pays only $1100 a month. Whereas, I pay about $850 a month unfurnished in an average area in an average sized city in the US. You get the drift. So if you compare average US standard with best of Shanghai, then yes it is more expensive in Shanghai. But again not even by that much and only in renting apartments. I have been to Shanghai, even the price of expensive restaurants are in Shanghai is equal to that of standards ones here - such as Olive Garden, Friday's etc. I stopped believing in this Cost Index when last year, they put Seoul as a more expensive city to live in than Paris, Zurich, Milan |
Do You Believe in Living Cost Index?