How much does it cost to raise a child in Modern day China?

magnus1977
March 20, 2008, 09:34 AM posted in General Discussion

How much does it cost to raise a child in Modern day China?

Again doing a bit of research.  Anybody out there find some information?  If you stumble on anything...please tell me.

Expenses.

raise a child to 5 years old. 

Raise a child to 3 years old. 

Any information would be great. 

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auntie68
March 20, 2008, 10:50 AM

Hi clarsen. I have never lived in China before, but what I've heard anecdotally -- from a PRC national who was my boss in 1999 - 2002 (he was a diplomat, highly educated, one child), was that the going rate for two reasonably ambitious professional parents was: one parent's entire salary would be devoted to the child, meaning things like fees for pre-school, private English classes, piano and violin classes, study materials etc. No part of that salary could be spared for things like rent or food bills or medical whatever. When I visited Southern China during that same time-window, I met young parents who spent an even greater percentage of the household income on the one child. Because they were less highly educated themselves, and were prepared to spend more on giving their child a better start in life. For me, such an investment is simply staggering...