Living in Shanghai as a Foreigner

Short Answer

The Bund waterfront in Shanghai at night

The Bund offers stunning views of Shanghai's Pudong skyline

Deep Dive

Neighborhoods for Expats

• Central location, excellent transport links
• Mix of old lane houses (shikumen) and modern high-rises
• Close to West Nanjing Road shopping
• Rent: 8,000-18,000 RMB/month for a one-bedroom

• Tree-lined streets, colonial architecture
• Trendy cafes, boutiques, and restaurants
• Most popular area for young expats
• Rent: 7,000-15,000 RMB/month for a one-bedroom

• Established expat area with international schools
• Quieter, more suburban feel
• Close to Hongqiao Airport
• Rent: 6,000-12,000 RMB/month for a one-bedroom

• Modern, spacious apartments
• Financial district with multinational offices
• More space for your money
• Rent: 5,000-12,000 RMB/month for a one-bedroom

• More affordable, authentic neighborhood feel
• Growing food and cafe scene
• Good for students and young professionals
• Rent: 4,000-8,000 RMB/month for a one-bedroom

Cost of Living

• Rent: 6,000-15,000 RMB/month for a one-bedroom in expat areas
• Food: 20-50 RMB for a local meal, 100-300 RMB for Western dining
• Transport: Metro ride 3-7 RMB, taxi base fare 14 RMB
• Utilities: 200-500 RMB/month (electricity, water, gas, internet)
• Groceries: Local markets are cheap; imported goods at City Shop or Hema are expensive
• Total monthly budget: 10,000-25,000 RMB for a comfortable single expat lifestyle

Getting Around

• Metro -- 20 lines covering the entire city. Clean, efficient, cheap. Runs 5:30am-11pm
• Taxi/DiDi -- abundant and affordable. Base fare 14 RMB
• Shared bikes -- Meituan and Hellobike everywhere
• E-bike -- popular but requires a local license
• Maglev -- Pudong Airport to Longyang Road in 8 minutes (430 km/h)

Food Scene

• Local Shanghainese cuisine -- xiaolongbao, shengjianbao, hongshaorou (red-braised pork)
• Sichuan, Cantonese, Hunan -- every regional Chinese cuisine is well-represented
• International dining -- Michelin-starred restaurants, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Mexican
• Street food -- jianbing, chuan'r, scallion pancakes
• Brunch culture -- the French Concession has dozens of excellent brunch spots
• Bars and nightlife -- Found 158, Xintiandi, the Bund rooftop bars

Social Life

• Expat groups -- InterNations, Shanghai Expats (WeChat), Meetup
• Language exchanges -- weekly events at bars and cafes
• Sports -- running clubs, CrossFit gyms, football leagues, ultimate frisbee
• Cultural events -- Shanghai International Film Festival, Fashion Week, art exhibitions
• WeChat groups -- neighborhood groups, hobby groups, buy/sell/trade groups

Weather

• Winter (Dec-Feb): 2-10C. Damp cold, no central heating. Overcast for weeks
• Spring (Mar-May): 10-25C. Pleasant but brief
• Summer (Jun-Sep): 28-38C. Very humid. Plum rain in June-July
• Autumn (Oct-Nov): 15-25C. Best season. Clear skies

Work and Business

• Industries: Finance, consulting, trade, luxury, advertising, tech
• Language: English is more widely spoken than elsewhere in China, but Mandarin is essential for deeper integration
• Networking: Active business community with regular events
• Coworking spaces: WeWork, naked Hub, SOHO 3Q

Practical Tips

• Air quality is generally better than Beijing, but still check AQI regularly
• Healthcare -- United Family Hospital and Parkway Health have English-speaking doctors
• Grocery shopping -- Hema for delivery, Carrefour for Western items, wet markets for fresh produce
• Banking -- Bank of China and China Merchants Bank have English-friendly branches
• Police registration -- register within 24 hours of moving into a new apartment