Beijing rent ranked world’s least affordable

World Today

Beijing has been named the most expensive global city to rent in by a report from a U.K. based organization surveying 15 global cities. They found that in Beijing, average rental prices are more than 1.2 times average salaries.

CCTV’s Jiang Shaoyi spoke to few residents to find out how are they making the ends meet.

The 26-year-old computer programmer, Wang Qianglong, left his hometown 4 years ago.

He now works in an IT company in southwestern Beijing’s Fengtai district, more than 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from North Four Village.

Locals said they are all outsiders living there.

“Almost all residents here are outsiders. It’s 700-800 yuan a month to rent a room here, much cheaper than the downtown areas. However, it’s too far for them to go to work. But anyway, transportation doesn’t cost as much as rent,” a local said.

In North Four Village, as far as the eye can see, are rental ads. Wang said he can save over a thousand yuan a month living here.

While there is poor lighting, cramped quarters, weak network signals, Wang said, there are also better jobs, more opportunities, and a brighter future. Perhaps the hardest thing is the loneliness.

Far from home, and dreaming of making it big.