The cost of living varies according to region and city. It is
higher in the major cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and
Nanjing than in other medium or smaller cities.
Normally, what a person earns in salary is sufficient to the
needs and cost of living of the area/city. The foreign teacher
normally earns a higher salary than their Chinese teaching
counterparts. If prudent, teachers can save enough of their salary
to travel during the vacation periods.
(Chinajob.com October 18, 2006)