You have already taken that first step towards signing up for going abroad to China. Whether you are doing a study Chinese program, teaching English program, immersion program, internship program or volunteer program, you will need to plan out your budget. Unless you have loads of cash, you will want to be smart about where each portion of your budget goes.

Here are some common questions we receive about smart budgeting in China.

What’s the currency in China?

The currency in China is RenMinBi (RMB) or Yuan. You can determine the exchange rate here.

How much money should I bring with me to China?

It all depends on your spending style and how much money you have available for your trip. If you need to be frugal during your trip, you may want to check out how much things cost.

Here are the three most important expenses to include in your budget.

What will transportation cost me in China?

Bus. The cheapest mode of public transportation in Beijing is taking the bus. It costs less than 1RMB per ride.

Note: The bus system is difficult to understand if your Chinese is not moderate to advanced. You will need to be beyond the basics in Chinese to feel comfortable navigating.

Subways. The subways are much faster than taking the bus, but they cost 2.50RMB per ride. What’s great about taking the subways is that the signs in the stations are also in English, which is ideal if you are still new to the Chinese language.

Taxi. Taking a taxi is probably the easiest, but also the most costly option. It averages 10RMB to 11 RMB for just getting around town. If you are traveling from the Haidian district to the Downtown area, it will cost about 30RMB. If you are going to the business district, costs will range from 40RMB to 60RMB.

Note: Always write out your destination in Chinese because most cab drivers cannot speak English.

Bicycles. If you want to travel like the local Chinese and university students, just use a bicycle. Brand new bikes cost about 200RMB, but a used bike costs only 100RMB.

How much money should I allot for food?

If you are staying in a major city in China, the bulk of your living expenses will most likely go towards groceries. Plan to spend about 60RMB per day, if you cook at home. If you choose to eat out, your expenses would range between 60RMB to 100RMB per day.

How much money should I set aside for shopping and entertainment?

Entertainment and shopping in the city is relatively inexpensive, but it does depend on what you do and where you go.

Knowing what to include in your budget while living in China is crucial to having an incredible going abroad experience. And, that’s what we’re all about at Next Step China!

If you have any questions about expenses in China or getting started on your next trip to China, just send us a quick email here.