Living With a Stranger at 22 in China 🇨🇳 | My First Job After University | Rent Takes 66%
yaya in China
12,435 views
I finished university and took my first job. I'm 22, I live in Hangzhou, and rent takes two-thirds of what I earn.
I share the apartment with someone I've never spoken to.
Last month I took home ¥6,027.88 (about $893). Rent was ¥4,000 (about $593) — 66% of my pay. The apartment came with the job. I didn't choose it, and I pay for one room in it. What's left is about $10 a day, before utilities and internet.
I sell industrial ingredients online — the kind that make the foam in shampoo. It isn't what I studied. I've never met a single one of my customers, and they've never seen my face.
I don't have a boyfriend, and I haven't made close friends here yet. Most days I type more than I talk.
I filmed this myself on my phone, over a few ordinary workdays in August, and put them together as one ordinary day. No crew, no second camera, no one behind the lens. If you spot the tripod in one shot at my desk — that's the whole production. I left it in.
ON THE NUMBERS
For consistency, all USD conversions use $1 = ¥6.7472.
The numbers shown here come from my own records, receipts, and calculations.
¥6,027.88 take-home · ¥4,000 rent (66%) · ¥16.96 dinner ($2.51) · ¥12 milk tea, ¥2.99 with a coupon ($0.44) · ¥29.80 book
How much of your pay goes to rent where you live? I read every comment — I don't get to say much out loud in a day, so it means more than you'd think.
Next time: my day off.
17 Comments
I don't get to say much out loud in a normal day, so seeing your thoughts here means more than you might think.
A few things you might be wondering:
— The tripod you see at my desk is the only one I use. I set my phone up, walk into the shot, and come back to stop it. Some shots are not perfect, but I left them that way because this is how I actually film my days.
— I took home ¥6,027.88 and paid ¥4,000 in rent. For consistency, all USD conversions use $1 = ¥6.7472.
— The person behind the other door and I still haven't had a real conversation.
I'm curious about your life too:
Where are you watching from, and what percentage of your income goes to housing?
If you own your home, rent with roommates, live with family, or have a completely different situation — I'd love to hear your story.
I read every comment, and your answers might become part of what I share next.
Living With a Stranger at 22 in China 🇨🇳 | My First Job After University | Rent Takes 66%
yaya in China
12,435 views
I finished university and took my first job. I'm 22, I live in Hangzhou, and rent takes two-thirds of what I earn.
I share the apartment with someone I've never spoken to.
Last month I took home ¥6,027.88 (about $893). Rent was ¥4,000 (about $593) — 66% of my pay. The apartment came with the job. I didn't choose it, and I pay for one room in it. What's left is about $10 a day, before utilities and internet.
I sell industrial ingredients online — the kind that make the foam in shampoo. It isn't what I studied. I've never met a single one of my customers, and they've never seen my face.
I don't have a boyfriend, and I haven't made close friends here yet. Most days I type more than I talk.
I filmed this myself on my phone, over a few ordinary workdays in August, and put them together as one ordinary day. No crew, no second camera, no one behind the lens. If you spot the tripod in one shot at my desk — that's the whole production. I left it in.
ON THE NUMBERS
For consistency, all USD conversions use $1 = ¥6.7472.
The numbers shown here come from my own records, receipts, and calculations.
¥6,027.88 take-home · ¥4,000 rent (66%) · ¥16.96 dinner ($2.51) · ¥12 milk tea, ¥2.99 with a coupon ($0.44) · ¥29.80 book
How much of your pay goes to rent where you live? I read every comment — I don't get to say much out loud in a day, so it means more than you'd think.
Next time: my day off.
https://ko-fi.com/yayainchina
Please never feel obligated — watching, commenting, and being here already means a lot to me.