Teaching English in China can be surprisingly lucrative. Although the net total of many teachers’ earnings may seem small when living expenses are factored in, many English and ESL teachers make a very reasonable income and can even save thousands of dollars to bring home. Even on a small income, choosing the right place to live in China and maintaining a relatively frugal lifestyle means that many English teachers overseas are saving more than their Western counterparts.
Financial Benefits to Living in China
- Public transportation is cheap and efficient
- Rent is generally low, especially in smaller cities
- Foreign employees are usually paid the equivalent of a very high salary in China
- Groceries and restaurants are inexpensive
- Internet and phone costs are low
How to Save Money Teaching in China
Choose the right job. Many schools in China offer teachers a salary comparable with a tenured Chinese professor, and many reimburse Western teachers for airfare and help them to find accommodation. However, pay rates vary depending on location and institution. Teachers should do their research and choose a school that pays a reasonable salary.
Location, location, location! Teaching in a relatively smaller city means that living expenses and apartment rental costs will be much lower. In large cities like Shanghai and Beijing, Western style apartments in the downtown areas will cost as much as apartments in the West. Choosing a location in the suburbs of such cities, or choosing to live and work in a smaller city altogether (Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Xiamen are foreigner-friendly cities), will help teachers save quite a bit on living expenses.
Live a local (and thus frugal) lifestyle. Even on a very good international school salary, Westerners who go to Western-style bars every weekend and spend on movie tickets, Western restaurants, and other Western-style entertainment will quickly drain their pocketbooks.
By contrast, teachers in China who eat local food, drink local beer, and limit their Western entertainment can easily keep their monthly eating and entertainment costs low. Even hiring a local cook to provide meals a few times a week can be surprisingly inexpensive. For those who crave Western food, buying Western groceries at large chain stores such as Carrefour or Metro, and cooking at home, can be a relatively inexpensive way to get that Western food fix.
Buy local produce. Living locally in China often means buying fresh groceries at local markets, and fruits and vegetables are often much fresher at small Chinese street markets than they are at large Western superstores. Produce is usually picked ripe, and sold the same day. Westerners should make sure they wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove all dirt and insecticides, and when in doubt, cook produce thoroughly. If you can speak some Chinese, you can bargain vendors down to the local price.
Use public transport. Taking a taxi in China is usually inexpensive, and public transportation (such as subways and buses) is even cheaper. There is usually no need for foreigners to buy a car, though foreigners working for large multinational companies can often afford one (sometimes with a driver). China is a relatively safe country, and the greatest risk while taking public transportation is petty theft.
Communication and mobile phone costs in China are low. While many Chinese sport expensive touch screen mobile phones with all the bells and whistles, many models are available for under $50. Buying a SIM card and charging a mobile phone are simple procedures, and monthly mobile phone costs (local calls) can be as low as (or lower than) 10 dollars.
Chinese mobile phones operate on a pay-as-you-go model – users charge money onto their SIM card and recharge when the amount is used up. For communicating with friends and family overseas, using Skype is an affordable and convenient option, and Internet bars are available at rates of a couple yuan per hour all over China. Internet can also be installed in apartments for very reasonable rates.
Teachers in China who do not have to pay for a house and car in the West may find that teaching in China can bring in a tidy income and that they even save some money. While annual salaries for different teaching jobs in China can vary, an appropriate choice of job, location, and lifestyle means that teaching in China can be both lucrative and enjoyable.
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