City Cost Selector
Select a city to see estimated monthly costs for a CSC scholar.
Beijing (Tier 1)
Monthly Expenses
- Food (eating out + cooking)CNY 1,500–2,500
- Transport (metro + bus)CNY 200–400
- Phone + InternetCNY 100–200
- Misc (toiletries, etc.)CNY 300–500
- Total (on campus)CNY 2,100–3,600
Verdict
PhD stipend (CNY 3,500) just barely covers expenses on campus. Master's stipend (CNY 3,000) will be tight. Off-campus living adds CNY 2,000-4,000/month rent with only CNY 700-1,000 subsidy.
Shanghai (Tier 1)
Similar to Beijing. Food costs CNY 1,400-2,200/month. Transport slightly cheaper with extensive metro. Off-campus rent: CNY 2,500-5,000/month. Shanghai has more international dining options but they're expensive.
Guangzhou (Tier 1)
Slightly cheaper than Beijing/Shanghai. Food: CNY 1,200-1,800 (Cantonese cuisine is affordable and excellent). Rent: CNY 1,500-3,500 off-campus. Weather is hot and humid — AC is essential, not optional.
Wuhan (Tier 2)
Significantly cheaper. Food: CNY 800-1,500/month. Transport: CNY 100-200. Off-campus rent: CNY 800-2,000. Home to Wuhan University and HUST. Your stipend will cover expenses comfortably. Summers are extremely hot ("one of China's furnace cities").
Chengdu (Tier 2)
Very affordable with excellent quality of life. Food: CNY 700-1,300 (famous Sichuan cuisine is cheap and delicious). Transport: CNY 80-200. Off-campus rent: CNY 800-2,000. Known for relaxed lifestyle. Home to Sichuan University.
Smaller Cities (Tier 3+)
Best value. Food: CNY 500-1,000/month. Transport: CNY 50-150. Off-campus rent: CNY 400-1,200. Your stipend covers everything with savings possible. Fewer English speakers, fewer international amenities, but most authentic Chinese experience. Examples: Lanzhou, Kunming, Harbin, Hefei.
Banking & Payment Essentials
China is essentially cashless. You MUST set up mobile payment to function daily.
WeChat Pay & Alipay
Everything in China uses mobile payment: restaurants, taxis, vending machines, even street food vendors. You must link a Chinese bank account to WeChat Pay and/or Alipay. Foreign cards sometimes work for Alipay but with limitations. Get a Chinese bank account in your first week.
Opening a Bank Account
You'll need: passport, student ID, phone number, and university enrollment certificate. ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) or Bank of China are most common. Your CSC stipend will be deposited into this account monthly. ATM withdrawals are free at your bank's ATMs.
Budget Planned?
Don't forget the internet situation — it affects everything.