To the girl whose business failed and has to restart by finding a job in Shanghai, it takes a lot of courage to start something and even more courage to restart again after failure. You can do it!

Those who refuse to "lie-flat" are working during weekend, you cant find them on street interview😂

I think not only In China but in many developed countries people will slowly start to live outside the cities

All of them are so well spoken. Nice interview

it's scary how some people's circles and the others are totally different. The finance guy would believe the numbers are incorrect, while others would agree with it.

it goes to show a person's outlook on life is intricately linked to their financial status. the finance guy making the most money among them exudes visible confidence and optimism

I love being able to practice my Chinese listening in these amazing street-interviews. I can't wait to make my own interviews in China, like the ones I just made in Colombia

I worked for 4 years in Shanghai as a UI/UX designer at a small international company. In my first year, I earned 400,000 Chinese yuan before tax, and in my last year, I earned 500,000. It was quite a good salary considering I wasn't a manager, and the reason my salary didn't increase too much is because I received additional share options.

Our company has a branch in Shanghai. When we made the recruitment plan at that time, we did a market survey. The starting salary of Shanghai ordinary university graduates was about 1,000 US dollars, and the salary of convenience store cashiers was also at this level. I remember clearly that the salary we provide is set at $1,300, and the master's degree is about $1,500. The average salary in Shanghai should be about $1,800. But if it is a large company like the one mentioned in the video, recruiting technicians who meet the requirements, the income is $3,500 to $4,000. If it is a company like ByteDance, Microsoft or Alibaba, it needs a higher salary to attract talents.

More content like this about money and living expenses in Asia please!

Fascinating interview! Great questions and thoughtful answers.

To have a good life, It's not about how much you make in Shanghai or anywhere. Life is tough for most of people, but hope and belief will make it easier if you have any.

I am just back to Melbourne from a holiday in China. I estimated the cost of living in big Chinese cities such as Hangzhou or Guangzhou to be about 50% of that in Melbourne Australia (regular cost of living, not housing). Average after tax income for a Melbournian is around A$5000 per month, so if a Chinese makes RMB 12000 a month, she/he will probably have similar standard of living as an average Melbournian. However, cost of cars and imported goods is similar in Australia and China, therefore Australians have more purchasing power towards cars, electronics and imported goods.

The issue doesn't seem to be inflation, since China is at risk of deflation like Japan. The issue is primarily due to the global economy heading into recession (and in several countries, already in recession). When the world can't afford to buy, then China cannot export as much. And another primary issue facing specifically new graduates is that China is in the process of overcoming the middle income trap. There simply are not enough high-end white collar jobs in China yet, and many new graduates come from privileged backgrounds and do not want to accept lower-tier work.

Over twenty years ago, I was assigned by my company to work in Shanghai. At that time, my monthly salary was 6,000 USD, approximately ten times that of my Chinese colleagues. We often worked overtime together until midnight. I felt sorrowful for earning only 6,000 USD a month, thinking that in the U.S., no one would work more than 10 hours a day (In Shanghai often reaching 12 hours) for such a salary. Meanwhile, my colleagues felt sorrowful for earning only 600 USD. Our feelings were the same.

Be grateful for everything you have!!

I experience this different viewpoint as well. My fiance and I work in the same field but I'm from a small institute while he has masters degree from one of the top uni in our country. I do well enough to not be threatened with layoff but I would never assume job openings are easy to come by. Him on the other hand seems to think there's no shortage of work around and he could easily move when something doesn't suit him, which I assume is because his peers all have well enough job. Some of my school friends do do well (excluding those who are born rich) but mostly they work little jobs just to get by.

I have to point out one caveat: the $ Chinese people mentioned is after tax income vs US is using pretax amount because the tax rate is different for income bracket and different states.

Great video! Sounds like all big cities in the West and young adults getting started in life. Global economy => similar lifestyles for equivalent jobs. The more I watch Asian Boss, the more I see my kids' & students' faces in the videos.

9:03 I'm totally like that guy haha ! "Repay" my parents for raising me, so they can have some rest and live !

Some people get it wrong about the unemployment of the youth in China. It's not that they lack the economy to have enough jobs, It's that the fresh universities graduates expect a lot to get a high paying job after working their ass off studying for their whole 20 years, so a lot of people just outright keep trying to compete in the huge market.

I live in Hong Kong and had just visited Shanghai two weeks ago. The basic salaries for a waitress as shown in the recruitment notice outside the restaurants is 5000 yuans per month+free meal and accommodation. For the chef and administration head, the salary is "negotiable". Good salary for migrant workers from other provinces. The apartment of 100sq metre and about half hour subway-journey from the city centre is around 3.x millions. In Hong Kong, that would be at least 12millions.

really fascinating interviews thanks!

I can understand the lady in black shirt who face trauma after business failing. Not easy to pick up oneself and face society. Just want to stay low away from society and friends. But there will always be rainbow days. As a person who grow up in city, just before covid strike I already notice the city life is purely hectic, constant pressure and frustrations. Seeing my spending power reduce a lot recently is alarming to me. Getting a little pressured honestly due to higher living cost now. Unless I am really rich, life in city may be easier (can simply park at valet, no worries of speeding ticket, not worry if the restaurant bill is expensive). If I know how to make a living life at rural, I would consider to go to.

21% is from the statistic bureau of PRC. that includes also 16 youngsters with no schooling

When I got a job in SH the wage was 13000 rmb/month (1780 USD), a Chinese friend said to me, "I'm not sure that is a livable wage in Shanghai", so my heart sank when the lady in accounting said she's making 4000 (550 USD) which is the same amount she said rent would cost if you get a place where you have to commute about an hour to go to the center/to work. Hope that's a temporary thing like the girl who said she's making a similar amount because she's interning.

I love Asian boss but I do not see them in Central Asia. Would be happy to see the podcasts from Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan. Thank you for creating such a useful content

I lived in Zhengzhou, Henan for a couple of years and I didn't pay rent because I was given a hotel room by the university. I did ask around, and rents for most 1 bedrooms were about 2-3k RMB near the CBD. Way cheaper than Shanghai and Beijing.

The rent in Shanghai is actually pretty low, compared to New York or LA, which is why younger generation can still afford to live in SH despite making low wages

Love the finance bro such positive attitude to life

This is refreshing to hear real people from china.

Great video -- great interviews !!

In the United States, many people receive a monthly relief fund of $2000, but still struggle to make ends meet and end up on the streets. Many people in China earn $400 a month and live a decent life. The true purchasing power of currency is completely different from the exchange rate on paper.

Finally a video in China

I graduated from my undergraduate program just a year and a half ago. I earn a monthly gross salary of $3,200 in Shanghai, but after taxes, there's not much left, let alone saving for buying a house. I work in the computer industry, where there are annual opportunities for salary increases, so there's a possibility that things might improve in the future. However, with a population of 20 million in Shanghai, many of my colleagues earn over $5,000 per month, but there are also a significant number of people making less than $700 a month. It's challenging to save money in Shanghai for many, including those around me.

I stayed in shanghai for a while last year, and living a whole 1h15 from the city centre, to rent a single person "studio" room was just under 3.5k. It was in a nicer area but housing and rent in shanghai is as affordable as any other major city (i.e. not at all lmao) The thing is, if you don't need to rent, 4k a month is quite comfortable, already, including takeaways and eating out every now and then. add on some other expenses and luxuries and you're looking at ... 7-8k ish for a decent quality of life. Public transport is so cheap it might as well be free. Including rent though and imo depending on what part of the city you do need a 10~20k overall monthly income

living in a city has more than 10 million population itself is actually insane for me.

As a Shanghainese, I feel like the China interviews done by Asia Boss are somewhat selective and biased after the financial supporter of this channel has changed. Different interviewees get different answers. So the issue is how you select the interviewee and how you editing the video. These interviewees are not typical and representative examples，especially these girl interviewees. The average salary in Shanghai is around 2000 dollars per month. Tech industry is around $4000 to $8000 per month. House keeping person is about $1000~1500. Economy is surely having some issue,but definitely not that bad as portrayed by some Western medias. The unemployment rate among young graduates is definitely not that high. The interviewer sounds like a Chinese citizen. She surely knows the situation in China well.

從他們的講話內容,很明顯的可以看出來,誰比較會賺錢. 也許很多人自信心都己經被現實催毀了. 不過想不經過競爭,卻能賺到比平均薪水還高的收入,依照簡單的邏輯就是不可能. 所以躺平其實是在造福別人.

more china interview please

I would agree with the lady saying that others are saving up money to afford nursing homes when they get old. Such a good mindset right there.

The average salary in Shanghai is $2,000. But if it is a large company, recruiting technicians who meet the requirements, the income is $3,000 to $4,000.. Only companies like ByteDance, Microsoft or Alibaba. But inflation is causing havoc and stress for everyone

wow even their rent is higher than some of california apartments ive seen

good interview & good translation

same thing in Australia new generation have no chance of afforting a house. They will just give up and life easy going life where possible.

i believe this is why the chinese government right now is currently developing the country side because they are betting that as the country gets wealthier people will naturally want more space and the rural areas surrounding major cities might have a boom.

very misleading question. Chinese youth unemployed was based on 16-21 years old information. They are in school or just graduated. 22-55 unemployed in China is only 4.2%.

Finally, I felt the most obvious bias against Asia in the "Asian bosses" on this platform haha!

This is the answer I want to hear, clear, calm and critical, which I can't find at all in Japan and South Korea.

Its not only _percieved_ as “one of the richest cities in China” - it quite literally IS the richest city in mainland China.

I'm living in Shanghai. I can earn about 4200 usd after taxes, rent. And I'm 30 in biotech. I can afford everything I want with this amount of income in Shanghai except luxury goods and house.

Excellent video!

我现在也是在上海合租房子，一个房间一个月2400，目前月薪是24000 ，一年15薪。（但是确实累，工作时间差不多9到10个小时） 目前没有买房子的打算，而且上海的房价确实很贵，打算以后回老家结婚生活。（我家那边的房价8000到14000） 年轻人能不能找到工作，以我为例，计算机专业，一个班级29个人，毕业后从事计算机行业的有8个人 目前我知道的有三个人不干了，因为太累了。 4个公务员，3个国企事业单位，5个升学的，剩下9个人有未就业的同学，也有私企的同学。

The model girl was really well spoken and had really good insights

Salary and expense reconciliation is reconcilable from the span of time, specially in Industries, be it from the age group and its respective expertise, experienced and new entry in industry, accounted inventories in the books of the corporation, adjustments and trial balances for forecasts and reports generation.

I live in Shanghai, make around 4000-4500 USD. I have two kids and my wife is full time house wife. we barely have any savings, luckily we bought our apartment years ago. we wouldn't be able to afford it if we bought it now which worth 1.5 million USDs.

I think one of the interviewees is from Xinjiang but in Shanghai, possibly Uyghur. If all things don't work, she can still go back to Xinjiang which is lower cost living and have more opportunities. And Xinjiang is rapidly developing with links to central asian countries through trade.

Last guy hit the nail on the head, why should sweat be taxed more than capital?

Was a teacher in SH making 32k monthly… can definitely live comfortably with it.

I first liked the girl in the hat because she was cute but then she told us about the failed business following by looking for a job. I appreciate that. *hats off to her*

do some videos in the third or forth line cities, you would get totally different answers

In India the background is clear, but in China it's blur...

This interview only focus on young generation in Shanghai, which could be quite misleading because the title didn’t mention it.

There are many people with low wages in China. The monthly salary of fresh graduates is 5,000 RMB - 20,000 RMB or more. There is a huge difference.

YESS! THE CHINESE INTERVIEWS ARE BACK!!!!

"Well your freedom of speech means nothing if your government is deaf " Me

and shanghai is the most developed/international city. go to a smaller city and the answers will be very different

I graduated with a major in Business Administration and went to work as an administrative supervisor at a club in Shanghai. My income is similar to that of a large pharmaceutical company in a small county in Zhejiang. I work eight hours a day and have two days off per week. The advantages of Shanghai are finance, IT, international large enterprises, and listed companies with a market value exceeding fourty of billions of yuan. The largest enterprise in our small county town has a market value of around 10 billion yuan. The rent in Shanghai is around 1000 yuan per room of 20 square meters at the end of the subway. Or close to the middle of the city but without a subway around, only buses. The food is slightly more expensive. I once to spend only 2500 RMB per month, including rent, utilities, and occasional takeout. Most of the time, I made it myself.  内卷 Neijuan is just the Chinese people's struggle for a better life. In fact, you could have lived an easy life, but if you want to live a better life, you can only give more because the life you want has exceeded your actual ability.

As an expat in Xian, China, I'm getting RMB 50,000/mth excl. allowances for Rental, Maid, Cleaning services, Petrol

People don't understand, not everyone is suppose to be able to afford a place in one of the most expensive cities in the world. It's the same thing for people in the US when talking about how SF NY are too expensive to live. You come to big city and get a couple years of experience and you can move back. Just move back 4Head.

average annual income is around 150000 CNY

Everyone in the video. All have real estate. Or inherit more than one property in the future. China's home ownership rate reaches over 93%. They are not locals from Shanghai. Shanghai is just a place to work. I think. Not every American. You all want to buy real estate in the heart of New York City, right? ?

Im shocked how similar the costs (and income) are compared to central Europe :/

Excessive wealth gaps destroys the social fabric, theres no faster way to devalue human life then through monitization.

a young McKinsey associate makes about 1 million rmb in 2nd year (2013 figures) the same as his peers in San Francisco and a bit higher than that of HK. Shanghai actually provides equivalent salary to the skilled workers that are competitive globally.

A nice mix, but it felt like there was only that one dude who was upbeat about the economy, but everyone else was finding it generally tough. Youth sentiment echoes around the world, even across the great fire wall.

Chinese people are educated.

CS master degree fresh graduate, Hsinchu@Taiwan, 2M NTD annual salary is common. This is 70K USD. Same degree at silicon valley it's 120K USD, without stock. I wonder how much fresh grad get in China if hired by IT companies. The one in the video with IT background, is his number representative?

500,000 is about 3x the city's average. 14,000 is the monthly average; the median is only 7,000. I make 25,000 a month and consider this a comfortable middle-class income.

In Shangai it seems house prices are looking so much high the people who are earning $1500-$5000 per month how they can able to buy $1.5 million worth of house?

Should say before the video salaried people get 13-16 months pay a year, depending on how the company is doing. A lot of income is withheld for insurance and tax.

Switching back and forth between people is hard to know what they do and their comments on the salaries.

How about a survey on the other cities like Hangzhou or Nanking，or even the Jinan😂😂

What matters is income relative to costs.

shanghai is more beautiful than california

Always nice to know how close to homelessness you would be if in other countries

This situation is pretty much the same as the US. Inflation is causing havoc and stress for everyone.

14:12 this guys speaking fax. I literally cant stop wanting things I don’t realistically need

Shanghai has a wide range of consumption levels, with stark differences between the inner city and the suburbs. People with varying means can survive in Shanghai. However, as an international metropolis, Shanghai offers abundant entertainment and cultural activities. The glitzy nightlife and indulgences require a good amount of money to fully enjoy. Due to China's accumulated structural economic issues, tense geopolitics, and the compounding impact of the pandemic, Shanghai's economy is not as strong as in previous years. Job opportunities have declined while university graduates increase year after year. Additionally, some people are unwilling to endure hardship after studying for over a decade, only to end up in physically demanding jobs or those without much room for career growth. All these factors have led to high youth unemployment rates nowadays. As for the "lying flat" culture, I see it as young people's way of not compromising with the status quo of society - a manifestation of "nonviolent non-cooperation."

It's just very strange that none of the interviewees are actually local shanghainese... 🙂 And you haven't asked them about their education background. For young people from other cities, it's probably very hard to buy an apartment in Shanghai by themselves, unless they are from very rich family. But it's fair, coz if it's easy, Shanghai will have too many people.. it's just a balanced market.

Its a bit misleading because 1ping was translated as m2. Its not 1 to 1 is it?

Asian Boss, Thanks Much !.......

I know Chinese salaries are low compared to the US, but it is still shocking to see how much lower it is, especially considering the cost of buying real estate. I work for a Chinese company and I suspect we are getting paid at least 6 or 7 times as much as our colleagues based in China.

"A takeout order costs $4 USD." Oh, sweet summer child...if only you knew. If only you knew. Sounds like "lying flat" is either the Chinese equivalent of quiet quitting at best, or hikikomoris at worst.

Most people actually agree that when powerful companies such as those in the Real Estate sector put their prices to impossible standard due to the high demand, the government should start to get involved and find a way or force the prices to go back down so ordinary people can still afford it and didnt cause a housing crisis. While there are some people who would actually believe that rather than stronger government control, it will be better if the government not get involved in the market regulations. To be honest, I dont necessarily have much faith in my own government in Indonesia but despite that, i would rather put my trust in their leadership than any corporation entity.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mdRkmtFj2N7LdoE.htmlsi=Lofuq4NItFuDq4fC 한국경제의 미래는 외국인력 정책을 어떻게 해나가느냐에 달려있습니다

My Mom (older than 60) who’ been living in Shanghai since tens of years, tells me that she (plus my dad) can afford to live in Shanghai 4000 Yuan (550$) per month, rent-free, very well, meaning they can afford what they need, eat what they want to eat, no stress at all…😢

The finance dude did not know where the data came from. Did he really see the economic data?

5:45 That voice is very nice to be a host.

don't really feel any inflation since 5 years ago, except housing, everything else is even getting cheaper