Beijing - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
We have a full-time ayi to watch our toddler and do general cleaning and cooking. We pay her about $1200/month. She's very efficient and our son loves her. The experienced ayis here are all friends and will frequently arrange playdates and activities so the children can socialize. - Nov 2021
Household help called an "Ayi" is pretty easy to get and will cost you between 40-55 RMB (6 bucks). Some Ayis speak English but you'll pay a premium for that. - Nov 2020
Most families choose to hire an Ayi for cooking, cleaning, or general errands. The cost varies but a part-time helper might only cost 400 or 500 USD a month. With so few expats allowed to come into Beijing right now, the cost may have dropped significantly. - Aug 2020
Quite affordable and lots of options. Mine comes once per week, does grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, ironing, and cooks a big meal that lasts a few days. I pay less than USD $200/month for this. - Jul 2020
Lots of folks had helpers - huge range in abilities and prices. Quality and trustworthy folks, especially for kids were in high demand and more expensive. - May 2020
Plenty, but most do not speak English. I do not employ help, so cannot comment on price. - Nov 2019
Part-time will run you $300 to $400 a month. Drivers start at about $800 a month. - Oct 2017
Cheap and easily available. You'll invariably pay 30 kuai (US$5) an hour. - Dec 2015
Very available. For a month (11 hours per day - 5 days per week) about US$650-750 per month - Apr 2015
Reasonable, about US$600 a month and I heard when people go on vacation, they usually pay the maid for the time off. I don't have one just to keep my life simple and I like my privacy. - Aug 2014
Readily available and quite good in my opinion, but increasingly a bit more expensive every year. $500-600 a month (or more) is a fairly normal salary for a full-time housekeeper. This was closer to $300/month a year or two ago. - Jul 2014
Widely available, about 600-1000USD monthly for full time depending on what you need done. - Jun 2013
There are lots of housekeepers available if you ask around the expat community, though many will only work in certain areas (in town vs. suburbs; certain districts in town). Cost can vary wildly depending on that person's demands. Expect to pay around $3/hour. Live-in help can be found, but not sure of the cost. If your housekeeper is Chinese, expect a substantially lower standard of cleaning and be ready to have things rearranged and put in mind-boggling places. We've been here 3 years and are currently on our 5th housekeeper. - Aug 2011
I have an ayi (maid) come twice a week. She does everything in my apartment and charges $75 per month. If you want someone full time, Mon-Fri for all cooking, bill paying, childcare ect it will cost $385 per month - Apr 2011
My apartment came with a housekeeper. She's worked here for the past 7 years for the previous 3 tenants and already had a key so just assumed she worked for me now. She is cheap (works for $3 per hour with a 4 hour minimum) and only expects to come once a week, and she'll do things like come during the day and wait for deliveries. Seems to be honest, too. I am still not sure that I really need someone to do my laundry for me and clean my house, but that's just an example of how cheap and available domestic help is I guess. - Jan 2011
Everyone has an ayi. Prices vary, usually starting around 2000 RMB (about $300) per month, plus one extra month's salary at Chinese New Year. She will work a 40-hour/week for this. She will likely speak no English - prepare to pay more if she does. You will never want to give her up if you find the right ayi. - Apr 2010
Easily available at between 10-15 rmb per hour. - Jan 2010
