Accommodation in Beijing

Although certain neighbourhoods and housing developments are favoured by expats, accommodation for foreigners is generally well integrated with Chinese neighbours and tenants.

Choosing accommodation as an expat in Beijing

When choosing a neighbourhood in Beijing it is a good idea to decide what elements of life need to be close at hand. Those preferring open space may sacrifice proximity to good nightlife, or those that opt for short commutes may entail sacrificing a larger living space. Beijing is an enormous city and finding accommodation is often best done by professionals. Usually the landlord pays the commission to the property finding agency.

Expat areas of living in Beijing

There are two main expat districts in Beijing, each with smaller communities within.

Chaoyang is a popular up-scale central area favoured by expats preferring to be close to the financial district and the city centre. Accommodation is mostly found in high-rise apartments, which is usually preferred by those expats without families.
 
Expats with children often feel better suited in Shunyi, a western style suburb full of gated communities. Here expats have a familiar setting including western shops, supermarkets, wide streets and international schools. These can be insular and safe communities but come with potentially hellish commutes into the city centre.

A two bedroom non-serviced property will be around $1,100 per month in Shunyi, while two bedroom apartments in central Chaoyang range down from $2,000 to $650. Serviced properties are much more expensive in Chaoyang and start from $2,500 up to a whopping $8,000 for two bedrooms. Prices increase dramatically with additional rooms as space is at a premium in the dense city.