With the acceleration of urbanization, more and more people are flocking to cities to enjoy the convenience and opportunities brought by cities. However, the cost of living in the city is also gradually becoming one of the focus of attention. From living to transportation, from food to entertainment, everything in urban life costs a lot of money.
Today, we're going to settle an account of city life and see how much money we've spent.
Residence
In cities, housing is one of the most basic and necessary needs. Housing prices vary greatly in different cities and in different locations, and for ordinary people, whether they can afford to buy a house with rent or mortgage is a big problem. In first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, the pressure to buy a home is particularly high, and many young people need decades to repay their loans before they can own their own houses.
Even if you rent a house, the monthly rent is very high, and if you are in the city center, the monthly rent of a good two-bedroom apartment often exceeds 4,000 yuan. In third- and fourth-tier cities, although housing prices are low, many people still cannot afford high rents or mortgages due to the level of economic development and employment opportunities. In conclusion, the cost of living in the city is a considerable expense.
Transportation
Transportation is also a necessity in city life. The cost of transportation varies greatly from city to city. In first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, subways and buses are the main modes of transportation, but the monthly commuting cost is also very high, especially for some new district lines far from the urban area, and the monthly commuting cost is more than 1,000 yuan. In third- and fourth-tier cities, although the cost of transportation is low, due to the imperfection of the public transportation system, many people need to buy their own private cars to meet the travel demand, which will also generate huge transportation costs, including car purchase, insurance, fuel costs, etc.
Diet
In the city, the rich and colorful food culture is a part of many people's love. However, the cost of eating in the city is also quite high. In Beijing, Shanghai and other cities, an ordinary lunch or dinner** often exceeds 30 yuan, and some high-end restaurants are even more expensive. If you go out to eat once at noon, it will cost at least 1,000 yuan a month. If you eat out every day, the expenses are even more staggering.
Entertainment
Urban entertainment consumption is also an important expense in urban life. Movies, events, performances, cultural events, etc. all cost a lot of tickets. Moreover, in the city, beauty salons, fitness sports, leisure travel and other indispensable forms of entertainment are also indispensable, and these expenses are not small.
We calculated how much we spent on city life and found that each month exceeded our expectations. In a first-tier city like Beijing, rent, transportation, food and other expenses account for the majority of our income, and other entertainment expenses can only be luxury consumption. In third- and fourth-tier cities, although the cost of housing and transportation is relatively low, due to the lack of economic vitality, many people's incomes are relatively low, and the living pressure is also very high.
Of course, city life isn't just about high costs, there are many ways to save money. For example, choose public transport instead of private cars, cook your own meals instead of eating out, choose free cultural activities instead of higher-priced entertainment, and so on. We need to be more rational about the cost of living in cities and look for suitable ways to save money.
In my opinion, how much money do we spend on city life? There is no one specific answer to this question because every city and every person's situation is different. However, the cost of living in the city is indeed a topic that deserves our attention. Only by better understanding and grasping the cost of urban living can we better plan our lives and work, and better respond to the challenges and opportunities of urban life.