100 RMB

In the recent City Weekend (a bi-monthly magazine in Shanghai), there’s an article about living on a 100 RMB per week. 100 RMB is a little less than $15 US. In an informal survey of some friends, most people said that they couldn’t do it. But I actually think I could. You have to keep in mind that the cost-of-living here is in some respects less than LA or New York or San Francisco. Don’t get me wrong, there’s expensive parts of Shanghai, where you could most easily spend a couple hundred US on dinner or go to a bar and spend Vegas prices on drinks.

But then there’s still the local places that have dirt-cheap prices. For example, today I ate a full lunch for 8rmb. I had 12 dumplings for 4rmb and a plate of cold, spicy noodles for 4 rmb. Seriously. I was stuffed full for just over a dollar. The same meal would be at least $7-8 back home. And yesterday I had 12 XLB’s for 8rmb, which were really good. (Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera out yesterday, so no pictures there.)

I think I can go at least one week on 100rmb. I would eat cheaply (no different from what I already do) and just drink beer at home, instead of a bar. Living on 100rmb would also mean not taking any taxis, but that’s ok b/c I can ride my bike or walk, hence improving my health too!

Not that I’d do it, but I know if I had to, I could.

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