Chinese in disbelief that a US$295 monthly salary makes them ‘middle class’

[Jlaw]

They should also realize in 1100 usd average roughly 8000 cny chinese can do alot more in china that they could do in united states.

I was a part time english teacher making 8000 rmb (1100$) USD per minth along with a few americans when i used to live in north east china.

In 8000 cny i had an apartment a motorbike, ocassional trips and travel across china. Paying my tution fee myself. Electricity bills phone bills etc everything and still i had atleast 2000 rmb saved each month.

Those americans who had no jobs in united states used to flip burgers in usa florida and make average 3000 usd in america that wasnt enough for them tp afforrd an apartment or pay bills in unitrd states per month.

While in china they could have all these things i had above in just around 1000 usd. Average pricres of things and sevices is dirt cheap in china with more standard than in united states they used tp say.

While most of their friends back home via facebook and YouTube used to make fun of these americans for leaving 3000 usd pays and going to china for just 1000 to 1500 usd per month.

This article doesn't consider this side of the coin since they most likely never been to china themselves.

Working at fast food chains in US will not make you 3000 USD/month for the hamburger flipper. They make anywhere between $6-10/hour depending on the size of the city. On 35 hours per week you're looking at $1000-1400 / month.

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

Working at fast food chains in US will not make you 3000 USD/month for the hamburger flipper. They make anywhere between $6-10/hour depending on the size of the city. On 35 hours per week you're looking at $1000-1400 / month.

Well they told me my English teacher colleagues that they made close to 3000$ flipping burgers in florida state there were 3 of them 2 men 1 girl.
While they said for similar sized apartment in usa florida they had to pay atleast 2500 $ in bills and rent while in china we do it in 1500 rmb. Which isnjust 220$ out of our 1100$ pay. Dirt cheap sir dirt cheap but more modern than American apartments.

 

[Jlaw]

Well they told me my English teacher colleagues that they made close to 3000$ flipping burgers in florida state there were 3 of them 2 men 1 girl.

He's definitely not telling the truth. Government workers (the ones who are going to food banks now) make $35-40k/year on average. No way a burger flipper can make 36k per year. Those jobs are mainly part time geared for students, illegal immigrants or retirees without any pensions or savings. Even Getting 35 hours per week is pushing it. The person who's making $40k/year in fast food joint is the manager.

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

He's definitely not telling the truth. Government workers (the ones who are going to food banks now) make $35-40k/year on average. No way a burger flipper can make 36k per year. Those jobs are mainly part time geared for students, illegal immigrants or retirees without any pensions or savings. Even Getting 35 hours per week is pushing it. The person who's making $40k/year in fast food joint is the manager.

Then in that case china is twice as good as i thought!

 

[Jlaw]

Then in that case china is twice as good as i thought!

There was a news from Guangzhou in summer of 2018 that textile companies cannot find enough skilled workers and offered salaries ranging 10k rmb-13k rmb per month. These are textile companies. My friend was joking that we should start a new career lol.

 

[Dungeness]

Take-away from this article:

1. Chinese have freedom to express their displeasure in China;
2. Chinese don't have to pay income tax when his/her personal wage is under $800 per month;
3. Chinese can afford and have the will to spend almost half of their income on education;
4. Taking lunch to work is worth mentioning as mean to save money;
5. There are 400 million Chinese who can afford to own a home, a car, and travel;
6. Chinese parents are willing and having means to help their children financially;
7. A home mortgage is less than 20% of monthly income;
8. Chinese use the term "make ends meet" rather than "paycheck by paycheck".

 

[Mista]

Not sure if "Middle Income" serves any real purpose since it is comparing the entire world.
That's quite a spectrum of humanity.

I don't see any problem with it. China's GDP per capita is around the world's average, so it's fair to use the World Bank's standard for the whole world.

Saw this posting for an associate job while I was in Kunming. This is a road side clothes store. RMB6,000.

View attachment 535444

That is already more than in Malaysia which pays typically RM1,700 for a similar job which is less than RMB3,000 . And this is located in the Klang Valley. KL-PJ metropolitan area.

View attachment 535445

IIRC, RMB 6K+ includes bonuses, overtime, 五险一金 (social security) etc.

Whereas in Malaysia RM1700 (your 2nd picture) is the baseline. Medical coverage and hostel are separately calculated. Malaysia's EPF contribution is lower, and employer's contribution isn't counted.

Wages in Kunming:
http://salarycalculator.sinaapp.com/report/昆明

Btw I find Malaysia cheaper than China generally. Prices in the 2nd-tier Chinese cities I visited are comparable to Singapore's.

 

[nahtanbob]

To be fair, that's close to the World Bank's definition.

$10 x 30 days = $300 per month
$50 x 30 days = $1500 per month

there are lies, damn lies and there is statistics

Well they probably have their savings in stock and property .

Half the population choose to live as slaves
Try looking at the other half for a change

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I don't see any problem with it. China's GDP per capita is around the world's average, so it's fair to use the World Bank's standard for the whole world.

True, for the people outside of China's main cities this middle income figure make sense.