In my experience of living in Shanghai, Nomadlist and Numbeo estimates are way too high. That's not to say that rich expats aren't actually paying those prices (someone must've entered them, right?) but if you're willing to shop around and learn the local language so you don't get ripped off like an ignorant foreigner, you should be able to get things much cheaper.
Isn't this just capturing the difference between short(ish term vs long term relocation? Places like Nomadist are aimed at the first category, not "what's the cheapest you can live in city X", no?
I’m sure the numbers are skewed highly by expats who’s employers pay for them to live there. I still remember my parent’s rent when they lived in HK- 13k USD/mo.
Not the poster you’re replying to, but it’s not atypical for expats being sent there by their company to live in luxury housing with staff etc. I think this is partly done to entice the expat to move his whole life and family for the company but also to hook the expat up with living way above the standard they could normally afford and so they’re more docile and less likely to quit or make waves.
