Real Estate

Last updated: October 2026 How much is rent in Shanghai in 2026? For a central one-bedroom, expect ¥8,000–15,000 a month. A two-bedroom runs ¥13,000–25,000, and a family three-bedroom ¥20,000–45,000. Outside the centre, one-bedrooms start at around ¥3,500. Of course, those ranges are wide for a reason. Rent depends on the neighborhood, the age and quality of the renovation, and how close...

You have found a street-level shop in the Former French Concession. The location is perfect — tree-lined street, steady foot traffic, the right neighbourhood. Before you sign the lease, there is one question that should come first: can you legally operate your business there? This is the mistake that costs foreign investors the most. A shop can look ideal and still be unlicensed for your intended...

If you are moving to Shanghai with a family, you will quickly discover a pattern. Parents talk. They compare compounds. They ask about schools, green space, and whether you can actually get a proper grocery delivery without waiting two hours. And sooner or later, someone will say: Have you looked at Gubei? Gubei and the broader Hongqiao area are not the flashiest parts of Shanghai. They do not...

Short answer: yes — and the rules are currently the friendliest they've been in over a decade. But "yes" comes with conditions that surprise most first-time foreign buyers: one property, self-use only, a residency requirement, and a purchase process with a few steps Chinese buyers never see. Here's the complete picture as of 2026, from eligibility to keys. The core rules The national...

Ask any group of Shanghai expats about rental deposits and you'll collect the same stories: the landlord who deducted ¥3,000 for "wall repainting" after a spotless two-year tenancy, the agent who vanished at checkout time, the deposit returned five weeks late with no explanation for the missing ¥1,500. Here's the thing those stories obscure: most deposits in Shanghai come back in full, and the ones...

Every week, someone sits across from us with the same beautiful dilemma. Open on one phone: a 1930s lane house off Anfu Road — high ceilings, a private terrace, plane-tree light through original windows. Open on the other: a bright 2015 two-bed in a Jing'an compound — gym downstairs, underfloor heating, an elevator that always works. Same budget. Completely different lives. We rent both, we love...

At some point in your Shanghai apartment hunt, a PDF lands in your WeChat: ten-plus pages, Chinese on the left, English on the right, and a landlord who would quite like it signed by Thursday. Most tenants skim it, check the rent figure, and sign. Most of the time, nothing goes wrong. But every clause in that contract exists because at some point, for someone, something did go wrong — and the...

Finding the right compound in Shanghai can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of options spread across Jing'an, the Former French Concession, Pudong, and beyond. Each has its own character, amenities, and price point. To make your search easier, we have created a custom Google Map that pinpoints the most popular expat-friendly compounds across Shanghai's downtown area. This is not a comprehensive...

If you have rented an apartment in Shanghai, chances are you have already encountered the concept of a second landlord (二房东 / èr fáng dōng) – whether you realized it or not. You find a beautifully renovated apartment online. The photos look great. The price is reasonable. You meet someone for a viewing, sign a contract, and move in. Weeks later, you discover that the person you...

If you’ve spent any time searching for luxury housing in Shanghai‘s Former French Concession, you’ve undoubtedly encountered the “Big Three” compounds on or near Anfu Road: The Summit (汇贤居), Chevalier Place (亦园), and Kingsville (金苑). These three properties sit within a stone‘s throw of each other and have dominated the high-end expat rental market for nearly two...