Updated: 25 October 2026 · Redream team
How much should you set aside for meals? Do you need to buy clothes every month? What about phone bills and small purchases? This guide helps Moroccan students plan everyday spending in China while keeping accommodation and university fees separate.
The answer in 30 seconds
- Start with your own campus prices: one food budget will not suit every student.
- Calculate meals daily and save a monthly amount for seasonal clothing purchases.
- The 2,080-yuan example below is a planning exercise, not an official average or a promise of affordability.
- Add housing, utilities, tuition, insurance and travel separately, then adjust after your first month.
Food: start with campus prices
Fudan’s UIPE FAQ lists dining-hall meals at 8–20 yuan. Shanghai Jiao Tong’s non-degree programmes page estimates food at 2,000 yuan a month. These are institution- and programme-specific examples, not nationwide prices or guaranteed 2027 rates. Check current prices at your campus.
Build your own estimate by adding breakfast, lunch, dinner, fruit, water and drinks. If you assume 40 yuan a day for all these items, 30 days total 1,200 yuan. This is a calculation assumption to adjust against available menus and your dietary needs.
Halal food, deliveries and cooking
Ask the international office about halal options on and near your campus, then check ingredients and preparation directly. Facilities at one campus do not guarantee the same options at another.
Compare the complete delivery price, including packaging and delivery charges. Set a weekly limit on orders and include coffee and drinks in your food allowance. Before budgeting around cooking, confirm that an authorised kitchen exists and check residence rules.
Clothing: save for seasonal purchases
First list what you already own and what you need: a suitable coat, comfortable shoes, everyday clothes and sportswear. Ask students at your actual campus about winter needs rather than relying on experience from a different city.
As a planning example, saving 150 yuan each month builds a 600-yuan reserve after four months. That is a saving method, not a guaranteed price for a coat or shoes. Compare actual items before purchasing. For online orders, check measurements in centimetres, materials, returns and shipping charges.
A monthly example excluding housing and tuition
Redream created these hypothetical allocations to illustrate budgeting. They are not a price survey. Replace each amount with your own campus costs and habits.
| Item | Yuan / month | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Food and drinks | 1,200 | 40 × 30 days |
| Clothing savings | 150 | Seasonal purchases |
| Local transport | 150 | Adjust to your needs |
| Phone | 80 | Check your plan |
| Hygiene and laundry | 150 | Depends on use |
| Stationery and personal spending | 150 | Chosen limit |
| Contingency | 200 | Keep unused funds |
| Total | 2,080 | Excludes housing and tuition |
Costs outside this example
Add accommodation, water, electricity and internet where not included, plus tuition, insurance, residence formalities and flights. Keep a separate arrival budget for bedding, essentials and any required deposit. Gradual clothing savings will not cover an immediate need for warm clothes when arriving in winter.
Read our university accommodation guide and city and campus selection guide. Deduct only support confirmed in your scholarship documents, accounting for its payment date.
Converting the budget into Moroccan dirhams
Use your bank or transfer provider’s actual exchange rate on the payment date and include fees. Calculate: amount in yuan × dirhams per yuan + charges. Do not assume that one yuan equals one dirham or reuse an old rate. Track everyday spending in yuan to make comparisons easier.
Your first 30 days
- Before departure, request campus prices and prepare an essential clothing list.
- During week one, record every purchase, including small orders.
- After two weeks, separate recurring costs from one-off arrival purchases.
- At month-end, adjust the plan with your family and keep clothing savings separate from your contingency fund.
Frequently asked questions
Will 2,080 yuan cover every student?
No. It is only the total of this worked example. Housing is excluded and food and travel needs vary by campus and lifestyle.
Does a scholarship automatically cover food and clothes?
Check its terms. A tuition waiver does not necessarily include a living allowance or every personal expense.
How can I save without neglecting meals?
Start with impulsive deliveries, drinks and repeated unnecessary purchases. Compare meals that meet your needs rather than skipping essential meals.
Plan your studies and budget in China
The Redream team helps you review study options and the questions to ask about your campus, accommodation and scholarship before deciding.