What is the cost of living compared to Canada?

The cost of living is a fraction of that in Canada. Most things you might want to spend money on are relatively inexpensive. Some things that you might like to purchase of a more international nature, with brand names that are expensive in Canada, are just as expensive in Shanghai.  In the countryside around the school you will find that things are really very cheap. You can buy designer brand name clothes in the upscale department stores on Nanjing Road and pay more than you would in Canada, or you can buy clothing in the markets at a fraction of the price compared to Canada

You can purchase groceries at a number of supermarkets in the City - Shanghai or Suzhou, as well as most day to day needs in the towns around the school. Vegetables and fruit are easily obtained at markets locally and are much cheaper than in supermarkets.  One should buy their meat (especially beef) in the supermarkets in the city.  Chicken, pork and fish may be purchased locally.

You can buy Western food at Supermarkets like Carrefour (French Chain), the City Market, Metro Stores (a German chain much like a Cosco), or the RT Marts in Wujiang.  Western food is more expensive than the local food.

There are as many different restaurants in Shanghai as there are nationalities and finding something that suits your taste is not too difficult.  Once again the foreign restaurants are much more expensive than the local.  You can have supper at any of the Five Star Hotels dinning rooms for 300RMB or for 3 RMB for  you can buy 10 dumplings in Shenta. Add a bowl of noodles, a bottle of beer and you can eat for less than two dollars!

Eating in the school cafeteria is also inexpensive - an average meal will cost you about 7-12 RMB. 
There are about seven outlets -serving various kinds of Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Western
fast food.

The teacher has a choice of having an apartment at the school - 1400 RMB (one bedroom) or
2000 RMB (two bedrooms) a month plus utilities (no deposit is required on this apartment) or
living in one of the nearby towns where they will be required a deposit - usually of two months rent.