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Shanghai Apartment Tour: Duplex Living Costs in China

Apartment Tour in CHINA | How much does a duplex apartment cost in Shanghai? 🇨🇳

Destination:ChinaCity:ShanghaiPopulation: 24.9 million
Apartment Tour in CHINA | How much does a duplex apartment cost in Shanghai? 🇨🇳
Always Away10 min

Apartment Tour in CHINA | How much does a. This was filmed by Always Away. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

Apartment tour of our first home here in Shanghai, China!

In this video we give you a tour of our high rise apartment in Baoshan, Shanghai. Living in this apartment it quickly felt like home and cost much less than renting a single room in London - we were shocked by how cheap it was when compared to home, especially being in China's most expensive city to live in!

--- Always Away
November 7, 2025, Autumn in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Always Away tours a duplex apartment in Baoshan, Shanghai, showing the smart lock, compact kitchen, living area and mezzanine rooms. Most appliances were purchased by the residents, while the washing machine came with the rental; the fridge sits in the bathroom because the kitchen has limited space. The home has a hot-water dispenser, rice cooker that can bake cakes, air fryer used as an oven substitute, integrated blinds and storage adapted to the layout. The tour also shows the complex's gym, communal kitchen and lounge, indoor cinema, tennis and basketball courts, green spaces, nearby shops and restaurants. Rent is 6,000 RMB, about £600 per month. The couple compare it with London prices, while a local friend considers it high because of its distance from the city center. The presenter also points out the walk-in shower, the compact entry shoe rack, and how wardrobe shelves and drawers help organize clothing and luggage.

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Apartment Tour in CHINA | How much does a duplex apartment cost in Shanghai? 🇨🇳

Entry and kitchen

Always Away tours a high-rise duplex in Baoshan, Shanghai, introducing the apartment against the city's reputation as China's most expensive place to live. At the entrance, a fingerprint and passcode smart lock replaces a traditional key. The presenter contrasts it with the locks they were used to in the UK and likes how convenient it is in daily use. The shoe rack is too small for all the couple's footwear, so they repurpose it as a makeshift hatch.

Most appliances in the kitchen were bought by the residents; the washing machine came with the rental. Their additions include a hob, espresso machine, instant hot-water dispenser, rice cooker and air fryer. The rice cooker can bake cakes, and they use the air fryer as a substitute for a conventional oven. Cupboard space is limited, particularly for food, partly because the water heater and cleaning supplies take up room. Storage is a recurring challenge, so the couple make use of furniture and spaces beyond the kitchen as well.

The kitchen has no room for the fridge, so it sits in the bathroom beside a walk-in shower. In the living area, the sofa and TV stand came with the apartment, while the couple bought the beanbag. Blinds fitted inside the double-glazed glass panels are protected from dust and damage, a practical feature they point out during the tour.

Mezzanine and facilities

The mezzanine level has a bedroom and a second room that can serve as an office or another bedroom. The bedroom is furnished with items supplied with the apartment. Wardrobes with shelves and drawers hold clothes and luggage, and the couple also use space behind a curtain. Air conditioning cools the bedroom, while a curtain helps keep the cool air in. They show a large mirror bought online for much less than they expected to pay in the UK.

The tour continues through the complex's shared facilities: a gym, communal kitchen and lounge, indoor cinema, tennis and basketball courts, green spaces, and nearby shops and restaurants. The range of facilities makes the complex feel self-contained. Rent is 6,000 RMB per month, approximately £600. The couple compare that figure with London rents and consider it affordable given the facilities. A local friend, however, says the rent is high because the apartment is far from the city center. The couple have moved twice recently and say they may show more apartment tours in the future.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: What are the benefits of the smart lock system?
A: The smart lock system allows access via fingerprint or passcode, making it much easier than carrying keys and offering a sense of security.
Q: What were the storage challenges in the kitchen?
A: There was limited cupboard space for food, partly due to the water heater and cleaning supplies, requiring creative solutions to store essentials.
Q: What appliances were purchased versus included?
A: Most appliances like the hob, espresso machine, rice cooker, and air fryer were purchased, with only the washing machine being included.
Q: What amenities are available in the apartment complex?
A: The complex offers a gym, communal kitchen and lounge, indoor theater, tennis and basketball courts, green spaces, shops, and restaurants.
Q: How much does the apartment cost?
A: The apartment costs 6,000 RMB per month, which is about £600, considered very affordable compared to London.
Q: What was a local perspective on the apartment's cost?
A: A local friend mentioned that the rent was considered high due to the apartment's distance from the city center.

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Shanghai Apartment Tour: Duplex Living Costs in China

Apartment tour of our first home here in Shanghai, China! 🇨🇳 In this video we give you a tour of our high rise apartment in Baoshan, Shanghai. Living in this apartment it quickly felt like home and cost much less than renting a single room in London - we were shocked by how cheap it was when...

Shanghai Duplex Apartment Tour: Cost & Features in China

Ever wondered about living costs in Shanghai? This video offers an exclusive look inside a duplex apartment in Baoshan, revealing a surprisingly affordable reality compared to London. Discover how this high-rise home quickly became a sanctuary, challenging perceptions of China's most expensive city. It's a peek into expat life and the unexpected value found in Shanghai.