China still offers some of the best savings potential in Asia for English teachers — but the headline salary is only half the story. What you keep depends on whether housing is covered, which tier of city you land in, and how much you eat out.
The typical package
A first-year teacher at a training centre or public school usually earns ¥15,000–25,000 per month. Many roles add free or subsidised housing, a flight allowance on completion, and a contract-end bonus worth one month's salary.
- Salary: ¥18,000/month (roughly $2,480 USD)
- Housing: provided, or a ¥2,000–4,000 allowance
- Flights: reimbursed up to ¥10,000 on completion
- Airfare + visa: often covered by the school
What you'll spend
In a tier-2 city like Zhengzhou or Hangzhou, a comfortable month — food, transport, phone, a social life — runs ¥5,000–7,000 if your housing is covered. That leaves a large slice of an ¥18,000 salary to bank.
A realistic savings figure
With housing included and sensible spending, saving ¥10,000–13,000 a month (around $1,400–1,800 USD) is achievable in a tier-2 city. Over a one-year contract, that's a five-figure USD sum — before the completion bonus.
The teachers who save the most treat the first month as a setup cost, cook at home a few nights a week, and negotiate housing as part of the offer rather than an afterthought.