What this thread is for / 这个讨论串适合用来做什么
Use this thread when you are stuck on this topic and need quick comparisons, real timelines, or examples from other applicants and students.
如果你现在就卡在这个问题上，想快速对比时间线、学校做法或他人的真实经历，就用这个讨论串。
Add these details / 建议补充这些信息
city, housing type, whether you cook, and the number you are trying to plan around
if you already live in China, what category changed most from your expectation
Quick prompts / 可以直接这样发问
What cost turned out higher than you expected?
What budget number would you recommend for your city and school type?