It is difficult to generalize about housing costs in Wuxi. The Wuxi real estate market has not reached a level of maturity in which all the participants understand the dynamics.

Rents are set by the landlords. They often inflate their asking price. Some expect to bargain, others  honestly believe foreigners should pay more, others are just greedy. The vast majority of landlords are good people who, like apartment owners outside of China, want to see a return on their investment.

Today as a newly arrived expat you can expect to rent apartments and houses in the following price ranges;

• 1500 to 5000 RMB a month for a one bedroom apartment
• 3000 to 7000 RMB a month for a two bedroom apartment
• 5000 to 10000 RMB a month for a 3 bedroom or larger apartment
• 12,000 to 20,000 RMB a month and up for a house  

When looking for and apartment in Wuxi you  should understand there is a difference between normal apartments and properties that bill themselves as exclusive or valued added properties. Value added properties include many things like, security, parking, the reputation of the management company, the landscaping of the grounds, even the quality of the interior design and furniture. You may consider these standard, but in China they are considered extras.

In truth, Wuxi lacks a wide selection of well managed apartment complexes.  Especially developments which offer houses or townhouses suitable for families looking for western style accommodation. There are plenty of apartments for rent but few suitable for people looking for higher end western style living arrangements.

ADVICE! If you want to maximize your accommodation budget the easiest solution is to look outside expat communities or high end value added apartments for apartments.

The best values exist in Chinese apartment complexes that cater to the middle class. In these buildings it is possible to find a nice 2 bedroom apartment in an interesting Chinese neighborhood for anywhere from 1800 to 5000 RMB a month.