Keep food and housing costs to a minimum: opt for monthly shared housing instead of daily rentals, and cook at home or use senior meal services rather than ordering takeout.
In 2025, food accounted for 29.3% and housing for 21.7% of average national per‑person spending — together they make up over half of total expenses, so cutting these two categories yields the biggest savings. Based on the author’s experience, monthly rent for shared housing is cheaper than daily rentals, and cooking at home is less costly than ordering food. When job hunting, ask whether housing and meals are provided; such positions effectively eliminate these major expenses.
Finding a place to live takes 1–3 days. The security depos…
In 2025, the average annual per‑person expenditure nationwide was 29,476 yuan. Of this amount, 8,631 yuan went…
Finding a place to live takes 1–3 days. The security deposit is usually equal to one month’s rent (a rough estimate by the author). Cooking at home requires 30–60 minutes each day; the real challenge is resisting the urge to order takeout every day.
In 2025, the average annual per‑person expenditure nationwide was 29,476 yuan. Of this amount, 8,631 yuan went toward food and alcohol, representing 29.3%. Housing costs totaled 6,397 yuan, or 21.7%. These two items together account for more than half of all spending, underscoring their importance for cost reduction. Senior meal services are available to all older adults and include community kitchens, dining tables, and meal assistance points; additional subsidies are offered to those in need. As a reference point, as of 1 January 2026 the lowest first‑tier monthly minimum wage was 2,080 yuan in Qinghai, while the highest was 2,740 yuan in Shanghai (national figures for 2025–2026).
国家统计局 (2026). 2025 年居民收入和消费支出情况. https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfbhjd/202601/t20260119_1962321.html；民政部等十一部门 (2023). 积极发展老年助餐服务行动方案（民发〔2023〕58 号）. https://www.gov.cn/govweb/zhengce/zhengceku/202310/content_6911233.htm；四川省人力资源和社会保障厅 (2026). 全国各省、自治区、直辖市最低工资标准情况（截至 2026 年 1 月 1 日，转载人社部官网表）. https://rst.sc.gov.cn/rst/ylbxjwjgzxx/2026/7/10/89a8ef06cc264d29b282d7c62f362a6b.shtml
Open source linkMonthly rent for daily rentals is considerably higher than for shared housing; this is based on personal experience rather than official statistics. Availability and pricing of senior meal services for non‑seniors vary by region. When seeking employment, be sure to ask whether housing and meals are included; such positions can effectively eliminate these major expenses. The original Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security table is inaccessible; the figures cited here are taken from a republished page by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security.