Types of Housing

Villas

The villa market in Shanghai is almost exclusively dedicated to expatriates and wealthy local Chinese. These villa compounds tend to be located in the suburbs, though there are some notable exceptions in the centre of the city which remain difficult to obtain. Villa prices generally range from RMB 30,000/month to RMB 100,000+/month, with quality and size varying accordingly.

Apartments

The largest selection of apartments is in the Downtown area, though many suburban villadevelopments have apartment blocks as well. Apartments come in a full range of sizes and facilities. When it comes to international standards, apartment prices begin around RMB 15,000/month for a studio or a smaller 1 bedroom and continue up to RMB 150,000/month for luxury penthouses.

Restored Lane Houses and Villas

This is the image many envision, when thinking of the “Old” Shanghai. Many people choose this option after living in Shanghai for some time and feel more comfortable. While these buildings certainly come laden with traditional Shanghai style, they are often a source of unending frustration as the building infrastructure (long neglected from 1940’s to 1990’s)experience inevitable problems, even after renovations.

It is strongly recommended newcomers to Shanghai not to choose restored lane houses and/or villas because of maintenance problems and limited facilities. It will also further isolate the incoming family from the supportive environment of near living expatriates. Furthermore, some company policies may not allow their assignees to live in this type of housing.