I have been living in China for over four years, and a question that comes up from people who are thinking about living and working in China is: can you live a Western lifestyle in China?
As with most questions about China, nuance and detail are required, so the best answer is: it depends.
I know, not the answer you were looking for. But there are several major factors in play that will determine your ability to live a Western lifestyle in China.*
*This article will not cover Hong Kong or Macau, as those are former European colonies and have developed mostly separately from Mainland China.
What does a Western lifestyle in China look like?
There’s a stereotype that expats in China all hit the pubs after teaching English, speak only three words of Chinese (badly), and run around town deluding themselves into thinking they’re all Casanovas. While this may apply to a small percentage of the expat population in China, many other expats are normal Westerners like myself looking for adventure or are here on an overseas posting.
Though most of us expats have moved to a country vastly different from our own, we will still try to uphold some aspects of our lifestyles for the sake of comfort. This could include cooking the food we like, eating out at Western restaurants on occasion, socializing with our compatriots, playing our favourite sports, and sometimes having a pint at the neighbourhood watering hole.
But depending on where we live in China, maintaining our Western lifestyles might prove difficult. So just exactly where in China can we expect to obtain all the comforts of the West?
Where can you live a Western lifestyle in China?
The biggest factor is definitely location, location, location. In major cities like Beijing and Shanghai (and to a lesser extent Shenzhen and Guangzhou), you can live an almost entirely Western lifestyle, as these major cities especially cater to expats and travellers. You can shop at supermarkets that carry Western goods, eat tasty Western food, have a nice pint at the pub, work out at the gym, play sports, and watch Hollywood films. What’s more, much of the younger population has at least some knowledge of English. These cities have thriving foreign expat communities, and these expats will often open restaurants or pubs that serve Western food, so if for some reason Chinese food isn’t your cup of tea, you will have plenty to choose from already. It’s nice to be able to treat yourself to a burger, pizza, or burrito every once in a while.
However, if you live in one of China’s second- or third-tier cities like Chengdu, Hangzhou, or Chongqing, living a Western lifestyle will be a little harder. Sure, you can find the comforts of home if you’re willing to look, but just don’t expect the same quality or selection as you would get in a first-tier city.
Oh, and a side note: Western-style toilets are less prevalent in second- and third-tier cities. And always carry around toilet paper or tissues. Trust me, you will thank me later.
Okay, so I can live a Western lifestyle in China. But can I afford it?
This is another big barrier to those who want to live a Western lifestyle in China: the cost! Western things are mostly imported, and as a consequence, buying them all the time could burn a big hole in your wallet!
Affording a Western lifestyle in China depends a lot on your salary. There are professional expats in China who have moved here with their families and earn huge pay and benefit packages working for major international companies. With their huge salaries, they’re best positioned to keep living their Western lifestyle even after having moved halfway across the world.
But what about us, the lowly English teacher or entry-level office worker? What are we to do to keep our traditions alive?
For the vast majority of us, our salaries will usually not be enough to completely cover our Western expenses. For public school English teachers, we can expect to make anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 RMB (1,400 to 2,200 USD) per month depending on experience. With our favourite foodstuffs sometimes costing nearly twice as much in China, we would go broke in no time trying to live a Western lifestyle! Bacon becomes a luxury item, and don’t even get me started on cream cheese.
If, like me, you find yourself in this position, you need to ask yourself what your priorities are. However, if you are hell-bent on living a Western lifestyle in China no matter what, you will likely succeed but find your bank account wanting. If you prefer to save money for awesome things like travel, pick a couple of essential Western goods (cheese, pasta sauce, taco seasoning) and do the rest of your grocery shopping at Chinese markets or wet markets! Plus, learning how to shop is a good way to improve your Chinese.
So, it’s possible to live a Western lifestyle in China. But would you want to?
That’s up to what your priorities are. If, like many young expats, you just want to travel China on a gap year or only plan on staying a short while, you won’t really have a reason to immerse yourself in the culture. You can keep living the way you’re used to as it will probably be the most comfortable and easiest option for you, even though it may be the costliest.
However, if your goal in coming to China is to learn a new culture, learn a new language, be a foodie (yum), and challenge yourself, then you will naturally learn how to weave the Chinese culture and lifestyle into your usual lifestyle. Through interacting with Chinese friends and colleagues, travelling around the country, and eating all the wonderful foods China has to offer, you will likely not miss that much about your old lifestyle than you thought you would.
And like me, whose main goal right now is to save money, not giving in to the temptation of Western foods and activities has saved me a ton!
While I’m fine with anyone who wants to keep living their Western lifestyle to the fullest, I would recommend anyone who is in China to get acquainted with the country, its people, its customs, its food, and its language. Even if you’re here for just a year, China is a daily adventure, and learning as much as you can about your adopted homeland will provide you with knowledge and experience you wouldn’t have the opportunity to acquire anywhere else.
After all, isn’t that why we all came here in the first place?