Costs
We take into account the program you choose — whether you’re going on a language trip, a High School Year, or enrolling in a study program. In China, costs vary widely by region. Your monthly budget therefore depends on the number of weeks, the city where you stay (such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, or Shenzhen), and what is included in your accommodation.
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How does our calculation work?
AtSkool uses a transparent, up-to-date, and experience-based approach to determine your monthly costs in China as realistically as possible.
- First, we look at the program you are following. High School programs often include many fixed components such as accommodation, meals, and supervision. With language trips and study programs, this varies per package — the more that is included, the fewer variable expenses you will have.
- Next, we analyze your destination within China. Cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are large, modern metropolises with a higher price level, especially for transportation, dining, and activities. Cities like Chengdu, Xi’an, or Kunming are generally much more affordable.
- We then consider the duration of your stay. A short stay (for example, a 2–4 week language course) has different spending dynamics compared to a full semester or academic year. The longer you stay, the more accurately we can estimate your average monthly budget.
- Your type of accommodation also makes a significant difference: host family, student residence, campus housing, or shared apartment. Host families often provide (partial) meals, while other options offer more independence — and therefore usually involve higher daily expenses.
- In addition, we include current local prices for groceries (often affordable, especially at markets), public transportation (metro systems are efficient and inexpensive), dining out, sports, street food, cultural activities, school materials, and personal expenses.
- Finally, we base our budget estimates on the experiences of previous AtSkool students in China. Their actual monthly expenses provide an honest and realistic picture of what students typically spend per city and per type of stay.
By combining all these elements, AtSkool creates a clear, personalized, and reliable monthly budget for your stay — so you know exactly what to expect financially during your adventure in China.
Would you like to know exactly how this works? Click the button below and discover how AtSkool creates your personal cost overview.