"How much do au pairs get paid in China?" It's one of the first questions every applicant asks, and it's a fair one. But the honest answer starts with a small correction: as an au pair you don't receive a salary. You receive au pair pocket money, and in China that pocket money goes much further than most people expect.
This guide explains how pocket money works in the au pair program in China, what is already covered for you, what you'll actually spend in a city like Chengdu, and how to make your allowance last all month.
Quick answer: with Masons Au Pair, your host family gives you ¥2,000 (RMB) of pocket money per month, agreed in writing before departure. Because the family also provides a private room and meals, and Masons Au Pair covers flights, visa support, insurance and Mandarin classes, your pocket money is almost entirely yours to spend on travel, food out and experiences.
Pocket Money, Not a Salary: Why It Matters
Au pairs in China take part in a cultural exchange program on an X2 student visa. You're in China to study Mandarin and live with a family, not to be employed, which is why the allowance is called pocket money and not wages. This isn't just a question of words: it's what keeps the program legal. If you want the full background, read is being an au pair in China legal.
In practice, the arrangement is simple: you spend time with the children (usually up to 30 hours a week), helping them practise English through play, reading and conversation, and in return your host family gives you accommodation, meals and a monthly allowance.
What Is Already Covered Before You Spend a Single Yuan
The real value of an au pair placement isn't the pocket money alone, it's everything you don't have to pay for. With Masons Au Pair, these are included:
- Round-trip flight tickets, based on the length of your placement
- X2 student visa support and the official invitation letter
- Insurance coverage for the full duration
- Free Mandarin classes at our partner school XMandarin in Chengdu
- A private room and meals with your host family
- Monthly cultural activities, a SIM card, VPN access and 24/7 local support
Add up rent, food, flights and language school in any big city and you'll see why former au pairs often say their year in China cost them almost nothing. See every detail in our au pair services.
How Much Is Au Pair Pocket Money in China?
With Masons Au Pair, your host family pays you ¥2,000 (RMB) of pocket money per month. Masons Au Pair doesn't pay the allowance: we agree the amount with the family and write it into your agreement before you travel, so there are no surprises later.
Why ¥2,000 and not more?
Because au pairs are in China on an X2 student visa, not a work visa. The allowance has to remain pocket money for a student on a cultural exchange: if a family paid a real salary, the placement would become paid employment, which is not allowed on a student visa under Chinese rules. Keeping the pocket money at ¥2,000 protects you, your host family and the program.
Never accept a placement where the pocket money, the hours and your days off aren't written down before you leave.
If an offer promises an unusually high "salary", be careful: it's often a sign that the role is really a full-time job on the wrong visa. Our guide on how to choose a safe au pair agency in China explains the red flags.
What You'll Actually Spend in Chengdu
Since housing and meals are covered, your pocket money only needs to cover personal extras. Chengdu is one of the most affordable big cities in China, and everyday prices are low:
Typical everyday costs
- Noodles or a local lunch: ¥12–35
- Metro or bus ride: ¥2–6
- Coffee: ¥9–35
- Toiletries and basics: ¥20–50
- Phone data: a few dollars a month
Where the money really goes
- Weekend trips around Sichuan
- Hotpot nights with friends
- Train tickets to other cities
- Clothes and souvenirs
- Hobbies
For a full breakdown with price comparisons, read our guide to the cost of living in China as an au pair.
How Far Does ¥2,000 Go in Chengdu?
Your room and meals are covered by your host family, so your ¥2,000 monthly pocket money is for extras. Choose your habits and see what's left at the end of the month.
Estimates based on typical Chengdu prices. Your real spending will depend on your choices.
Start your au pair yearHow to Receive and Use Your Money in China
China runs on mobile payments. Almost everything, from street food to metro tickets, is paid with Alipay or WeChat Pay by scanning a QR code. Before you leave home:
- Download Alipay and WeChat and link an international Visa or Mastercard
- Tell your bank you'll be using your card in China
- Bring a small amount of cash in yuan for your first days
- Once in Chengdu, ask the Masons team for help with any payment setup
Not sure what the apps and terms mean? Our au pair glossary explains Alipay, WeChat Pay and much more.
5 Tips to Make Your Pocket Money Go Further
Eat where the locals eat
A bowl of noodles in a neighbourhood restaurant costs a fraction of a Western-style café meal, and it's usually better. Our guide to Chinese food tells you what to order.
Use the metro
Chengdu's metro is clean, fast and cheap. Taxis and ride apps are affordable too, but the metro will save you a lot over a year.
Join the free cultural activities
Monthly events like Mahjong nights or seal carving workshops are included in the program, so you can explore Chinese culture without paying extra.
Plan trips together
Sharing hotel rooms and train tickets with other au pairs makes weekends at places like Mount Emei very affordable.
Track your spending
Alipay and WeChat both show your monthly spending. Check it once a week and you'll quickly see where your money goes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do au pairs in China get paid?
Au pairs receive ¥2,000 of monthly pocket money from their host family, not a salary. The program is a cultural exchange on an X2 student visa, and accommodation, meals, flights, insurance and Mandarin classes are covered.
Is au pair pocket money enough to live on in China?
Yes. Because your room and meals are provided, pocket money only covers personal extras like food out, transport and travel. In Chengdu, everyday prices are low.
How much pocket money do au pairs get in China?
With Masons Au Pair, your host family gives you ¥2,000 (RMB) per month. Your weekly hours and days off are also agreed and written into your agreement before you travel.
Can I save money as an au pair in China?
Some au pairs do, because their biggest costs are already covered. But most choose to spend their allowance on exploring China, which is half the point of the experience.
Ready to start your au pair year?
Tell us about yourself and we'll explain the full package for au pair placements in Chengdu.
Talk to Masons Au Pair
1 thought on “Au Pair Pocket Money in China: What You Receive and What You Really Spend”
Pingback: Apps to Use in China: WeChat, Alipay & More (2026 Guide)