Before anyone gets to complaining about low wages,consider this...many public school teachers make 600-800 RMB per month for double the workload of the average ESL teacher.A salary for even the most unqualified ESL teachers in China affords a lifestyle that is borderline luxury.How many of your Chinese colleagues travel every month and go out for dinner every night?Probably none because they can't afford it.Of course if you're one of those types who can't live without frequenting ex-pat bars and buying western goodies then your money won't go as far.But that's your choice.