For South African teachers researching China, a large salary figure converted into rand is only the beginning of the comparison. Start with the offer in renminbi, subtract living costs and deductions in China, then check what remains for savings or commitments at home.
This guide compares 20 cities, explains different school packages and sets out the preparation needed for a teaching application. The city figures below are indicative planning ranges, not measured averages, live vacancies or guaranteed earnings. Employer offers and local costs need checking before you make a financial commitment.
Contents
- Why consider teaching in China
- Compare 20 teaching destinations
- Salary and housing comparison
- Practical planning for South African applicants
- Evaluate teacher experiences
- Hiring seasons and application timing
- Teaching visas and work permission
- Choose TEFL training
- Use AI responsibly in teaching
- Develop specialist teaching skills
- Frequently asked questions
Why consider teaching in China
An overseas teaching role can provide classroom experience, cultural immersion and the opportunity to work with a new learner group. Some contracts include housing, medical cover and flight support. Those benefits need to be read in the actual agreement, including when they are paid and any conditions attached.
Compare gross and net salary, contact hours, office hours, paid holiday arrangements and the length of the contract. A high monthly rate can be less useful if part of the year is unpaid, accommodation is unsuitable or substantial additional duties are omitted from the advert.
Compare 20 teaching destinations
Use the city profiles to identify a shortlist, then compare current school offers. The order is a research guide rather than a verified ranking of salary, air quality or savings.
1. Beijing
Consider Beijing if you want to combine a substantial school market with China’s historic capital. Research the role first: international schools, universities and public schools can have very different requirements. For a South African departure budget, include the funds needed before housing and salary arrangements begin.
2. Shanghai
Shanghai may attract teachers looking for an international environment and professional connections. Its higher pay estimates sit alongside some of the highest rent estimates in this guide. Compare the net package in RMB before converting possible savings into rand.
3. Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a modern southern coastal city near Hong Kong. It is worth investigating if you value urban transport and a warmer setting. Ask where the school and housing are located, and keep mainland work permission separate from plans for cross-border travel.
4. Guangzhou
Guangzhou offers Cantonese culture, food and a large-city employment setting. Within the broad standard-role range, the estimates here are RMB15,000–22,000 for public schools and RMB18,000–25,000 for language centres. Confirm the employer’s legal teaching activity and sponsorship route for your passport.
5. Chengdu
Chengdu may appeal if you are drawn to Sichuan food, teahouses and a different urban atmosphere from Shanghai. Compare your likely monthly expenses with the written offer. A lower-cost reputation does not tell you how much you can send to South Africa.
6. Hangzhou
Hangzhou’s West Lake and links with the wider Shanghai region make it an option for teachers who want city amenities and scenic places nearby. Investigate the actual district and commute. Ask a current teacher about day-to-day life rather than assuming every school shares the city’s visitor appeal.
7. Nanjing
Nanjing is worth researching for its universities and historical setting. University roles are listed separately in this guide at an indicative RMB12,000–18,000 per month. Compare the full annual payment schedule, preparation and office duties as well as classroom hours.
8. Xi’an
Xi’an offers an inland base with major historical sites and a distinct local culture. It may fit a shortlist that weighs experience and living costs together. Get accommodation details and an estimate of deductions before calculating how the offer fits your financial commitments.
9. Qingdao
If a seaside setting interests you, investigate Qingdao’s schools and neighbourhoods. Rent can differ between waterfront areas and places farther inland. Check the location offered by the employer rather than building a budget around a city-wide assumption.
10. Suzhou
Suzhou combines gardens, canals and a developed urban economy close to Shanghai. For South African applicants, it is another way to explore the eastern region without choosing Shanghai automatically. Compare school support, housing and transport on the exact contract.
11. Wuhan
Wuhan offers an inland education and transport hub. It can suit teachers who want a central base for exploring the country. Look beyond the salary to the pupil group, available mentoring and what the employer does to help newcomers settle.
12. Dalian
Dalian is a northern seaside option with clear seasonal changes. Research winter conditions and the costs of a comfortable home setup as well as coastal attractions. A school’s support and your daily journey are more useful than a generic promise of an easy lifestyle.
13. Tianjin
Tianjin provides its own city experience near Beijing. Compare it as a place to work, rather than only as a cheaper route to the capital. Ask about the school’s district and actual local travel needs when assessing accommodation.
14. Chongqing
Chongqing is known for its rivers, hills and food. The geography can shape everyday journeys, so review the school location carefully. Judge the lower planning ranges against actual housing and transport costs before predicting savings in rand.
15. Ningbo
Ningbo offers a coastal commercial setting outside China’s largest international cities. Research the school’s curriculum and development support alongside the pay. A prosperous local economy does not guarantee that an individual teaching offer is good.
16. Zhuhai
Zhuhai may appeal if you prefer a coastal base with access to Macau. Compare inland and waterfront neighbourhoods, and ask what accommodation support really covers. Plans for weekend travel should fit the documents and conditions attached to your mainland stay.
17. Kunming
Kunming is a base for Yunnan’s scenery and cultural variety. It may suit someone prioritising climate and surroundings over the highest advertised pay. Check whether the lower salary estimate still supports local expenses and any ongoing South African commitments.
18. Jinan
Jinan offers springs, local history and a setting outside the biggest international hubs. Find out how much practical help the school provides with housing, banking and local administration. That support can matter when arriving from South Africa for a first overseas role.
19. Xiamen
Xiamen offers a southern coastal setting and access to Gulangyu. Ask about the actual accommodation and commute before making comparisons with other seaside cities. Include seasonal weather and the school’s response to disruption in your research.
20. Changsha
Changsha brings Hunan culture and an alternative to the better-known coastal destinations. Compare its indicative pay with the complete employment package and your likely spending. The right financial fit depends on the contract, rather than its label as an emerging destination.
Salary and housing comparison
Teaching salaries in China are generally quoted in Chinese yuan (RMB). For South African applicants, the table below also shows approximate monthly salary conversions into South African rand (ZAR).
These broad editorial estimates are intended for comparing cities. They are not independently verified current salary or rental benchmarks. “Other school roles” covers different teaching positions, while international-school jobs may require a recognised teaching licence and experience beyond TEFL certification. Accommodation figures are indicative rental costs, not guaranteed housing allowances.
| City | Other school roles (RMB/month) | Other school roles (ZAR/month) | International schools (RMB/month) | International schools (ZAR/month) | Accommodation (RMB/month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 15,000–25,000 | R37,486–R62,478 | 25,000–40,000 | R62,478–R99,964 | 4,000–8,000 |
| Shanghai | 18,000–30,000 | R44,984–R74,973 | 30,000–45,000 | R74,973–R112,460 | 5,000–10,000 |
| Shenzhen | 18,000–28,000 | R44,984–R69,975 | 30,000–40,000 | R74,973–R99,964 | 4,000–7,000 |
| Guangzhou | 15,000–25,000 | R37,486–R62,478 | 25,000–40,000 | R62,478–R99,964 | 2,000–7,000 |
| Chengdu | 12,000–18,000 | R29,989–R44,984 | 20,000–30,000 | R49,982–R74,973 | 3,000–6,000 |
| Hangzhou | 15,000–20,000 | R37,486–R49,982 | 25,000–35,000 | R62,478–R87,468 | 4,000–7,000 |
| Nanjing | 14,000–20,000 | R34,987–R49,982 | 22,000–35,000 | R54,980–R87,468 | 3,000–6,000 |
| Xi’an | 12,000–18,000 | R29,989–R44,984 | 20,000–30,000 | R49,982–R74,973 | 2,500–5,000 |
| Qingdao | 14,000–20,000 | R34,987–R49,982 | 22,000–32,000 | R54,980–R79,971 | 3,000–5,000 |
| Suzhou | 15,000–22,000 | R37,486–R54,980 | 22,000–33,000 | R54,980–R82,470 | 3,500–6,500 |
| Wuhan | 12,000–18,000 | R29,989–R44,984 | 20,000–28,000 | R49,982–R69,975 | 2,500–5,000 |
| Dalian | 12,000–18,000 | R29,989–R44,984 | 20,000–28,000 | R49,982–R69,975 | 2,500–4,500 |
| Tianjin | 13,000–19,000 | R32,488–R47,483 | 21,000–30,000 | R52,481–R74,973 | 2,500–5,000 |
| Chongqing | 12,000–17,000 | R29,989–R42,485 | 20,000–28,000 | R49,982–R69,975 | 2,000–4,500 |
| Ningbo | 14,000–20,000 | R34,987–R49,982 | 22,000–32,000 | R54,980–R79,971 | 3,000–5,500 |
| Zhuhai | 14,000–20,000 | R34,987–R49,982 | 22,000–32,000 | R54,980–R79,971 | 3,000–5,500 |
| Kunming | 11,000–16,000 | R27,490–R39,986 | 18,000–26,000 | R44,984–R64,977 | 2,000–4,000 |
| Jinan | 11,000–16,000 | R27,490–R39,986 | 18,000–26,000 | R44,984–R64,977 | 2,000–4,000 |
| Xiamen | 13,000–19,000 | R32,488–R47,483 | 20,000–30,000 | R49,982–R74,973 | 3,000–5,500 |
| Changsha | 11,000–16,000 | R27,490–R39,986 | 18,000–26,000 | R44,984–R64,977 | 2,000–4,000 |
Currency conversion: 1 RMB ≈ R2.4991 as of 28 October 2026. ZAR figures are rounded to the nearest rand. Exchange rates fluctuate, and actual converted amounts may differ due to bank charges and transfer fees.
Do not add a housing allowance to salary twice. Ask whether the quoted amount is basic pay, a package including accommodation money, or take-home pay after deductions. The same applies to flight reimbursement, which may only become payable after a qualifying period.
For international context, compare our TEFL salary report covering 30 countries. Its figures still need to be compared on a like-for-like basis.
Practical planning for South African applicants
South African applicants should check the work-permit route using their actual nationality, degree and teaching background. South Africa’s multilingual context means that passport nationality and a person’s first language are not identical questions. Ask the sponsoring school how the local authority assesses the language-teaching requirements for your case.
Compare Beijing and Shanghai if you want a substantial international-city setting; investigate Shenzhen and Guangzhou for southern options. Chengdu, Hangzhou and Suzhou offer further combinations of surroundings and school types. A city’s popularity with foreign teachers does not establish that a specific school can sponsor you.
China stays on UTC+8 and South Africa on UTC+2, so the difference is six hours throughout the year. A 7 pm call in China is 1 pm SAST. This can help you plan contact with family without a seasonal clock change.
Build a rand departure budget for training, documents, flights, deposits and the period before your first salary. After arrival, track expenses in RMB and check the actual amount and charges when transferring savings home. Check your tax position separately rather than assuming foreign earnings are automatically exempt.
Evaluate teacher experiences
Try to speak with a current teacher whose role and circumstances resemble yours. Ask about settling in, accommodation, the first payday, employer support and the practical experience of arriving from South Africa.
Read individual accounts as experiences, not forecasts. A savings claim only becomes comparable when you know the period covered, salary, included benefits, family circumstances and spending. Do not assume that another person’s quoted outcome establishes what your contract will deliver.
Hiring seasons and application timing
Autumn and spring intakes are useful starting points for research, but the school’s own calendar determines the vacancy. The spring timetable is affected by the Lunar New Year period. Allow several months to research, apply and prepare the documents that your employer and the authorities actually require.
Autumn recruitment often develops during the preceding spring and summer, while spring-start roles may be advertised during the previous autumn and winter. Replacement vacancies can appear at other times. Treat a year-round recruitment advert as a lead to investigate, rather than proof of immediate work or legal authority to teach every subject.
Do not book non-refundable flights around an assumed processing period. Confirm the intended start date, the required approvals and what happens if a decision takes longer than expected.
Teaching visas and work permission
For the usual overseas recruitment route, a school supports the work-permit process, you obtain the appropriate entry permission and you complete the required work and residence formalities. A job offer or tourist entry does not by itself authorise teaching. Confirm the sequence and the point at which work may begin.
Chinese work-permit guidance generally expects foreign language teachers to teach their native language, hold a bachelor’s degree or above and meet experience requirements. Relevant education, a teaching qualification or an accepted international language-teaching certificate can affect the experience requirement. The authority handling the application decides how the rules apply; a TEFL course cannot promise approval.
Prepare documents in the right order
Obtain the school’s written checklist for your work-permit category. It may cover your passport, degree, teaching certificate, background check, health evidence and references. Confirm required issue dates, translations and authentication before paying for services.
For covered South African public documents used in mainland China, apostilles have replaced Chinese consular legalisation since 7 November 2023. Check the Chinese consular notice and confirm the required preparation and competent issuing authority for each document. The receiving Chinese authority still decides whether its content, age and format are acceptable.
Check the employer and complete the approvals
Ask which authority processes the work permit, what the school will submit and what you must arrange yourself. After approval of the relevant notification, follow the current visa instructions for your application location. On arrival, complete registration, work-permit and residence steps within the applicable deadlines. Read the dates on your own documents rather than assuming that every approval has the same validity.
Changing employer or adding private lessons may require further permission. Do not assume an existing school-sponsored arrangement allows unrelated tutoring or online side work.
For further research, use the internship and overseas teaching information, the guide to teaching English in China and visa guidance articles. These are Premier TEFL resources, not an official embassy directory or an immigration approval service.
Choose TEFL training
The 120-hour Advanced TEFL course is one route to building lesson-planning, language explanation and classroom-management skills. Compare the current syllabus, support, assessment and access period with your intended role and any certificate requirements from the sponsoring school.
The 180-hour Level 5 TEFL diploma is another option. A TEFL award does not replace a degree, a required professional teaching licence or experience specified by an international school. No qualification alone guarantees a salary increase.
Check the exact award if you need recognition for a particular purpose. A UK Level 5 label should not be assumed to mean South African NQF Level 5.
Use AI responsibly in teaching
A useful AI skill is knowing when a generated activity needs checking or changing. Tools can help draft discussion prompts, adapt reading tasks and suggest feedback, but your judgement determines whether the material suits the learner. Protect student information and follow school rules.
Compare the current TEFL course collection for the training actually included. Ask about practical assessment and responsible classroom use rather than assuming that every course contains the same AI component or that an AI certificate produces a salary premium.
Develop specialist teaching skills
Choose a specialism that connects to your intended learners. The Young Learners course is relevant to age-appropriate activities, instructions and classroom routines. Teaching Business English can support work on meetings, presentations and professional communication.
Online teaching skills can improve digital delivery, while stronger grammar knowledge helps with explanations and corrective feedback. Combining skills is useful when they meet a real teaching need; collecting certificates does not establish eligibility for every school or a particular extra income.
Review specialist certification options against actual requirements. Before taking additional lessons outside your contracted job, check both your work permission and the employer’s terms. Do not include speculative side tutoring in the budget needed to make your primary offer affordable.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a degree?
The usual foreign-language teacher work-permit route expects a bachelor’s degree or above. Confirm your specific category with the sponsoring employer and authority; TEFL training alone should not be treated as a replacement.
Can a non-native English speaker teach in China?
Rules and recognised exceptions require case-specific checking. Language proficiency alone does not establish work-permit eligibility, and a recruiter’s assurance is not an official decision.
Is there one age limit for every teacher?
Age conditions can differ by permit category and applicable rules. Ask about your exact age and qualifications rather than assuming a national retirement age settles the question.
How much can I save?
Use your actual net salary minus housing, living expenses, dependants’ costs and commitments at home. Convert only the remainder using current available transfer terms. There is no guaranteed monthly saving.
Do I need to speak Chinese?
Check the vacancy. Some English-teaching roles do not require Mandarin, but basic language skills can help with daily life and communication outside lessons.
What hours will I work?
Compare contact hours with total duties, including preparation, meetings, administration and activities. A quoted classroom-hours figure may not describe the working week.
Are housing and flights included?
Only if the contract provides them. Check quality, allowances, reimbursement timing and what happens if you leave before the end of the agreement.
Can my family come with me?
Research dependant permission separately, together with accommodation, schooling and healthcare costs. A teacher’s employment approval does not automatically grant a spouse work rights.
What should I check about healthcare and safety?
Read current official travel advice, the employer’s insurance terms and local medical access. Include medication, exclusions and emergency arrangements in your planning rather than relying on a general statement that a city is safe.
Start with a shortlist of schools, a realistic budget and TEFL certification information that matches your goals. The strongest choice is a role with clear duties, verified work arrangements and a package you can evaluate in writing.
