“Houses are for living in, not for speculation.”
Affordable Housing in China
Welcome back to ‘Five Reasons Why I Love Living in China’—a video series where I look at the realities of daily life here, compared to life back home in Ireland.
Let’s dive into reason number two: Housing. I am incredibly grateful to have a roof over my head here in China. It is ironic to see some critics point fingers at China for having an “oversupply” of housing, while back in Ireland, we are suffering from a crippling undersupply.
Ultimately, an oversupply ensures that the vast majority of people can actually own a home; it reduces homelessness and provides the stable bedrock people need to succeed in life.
Additionally, China’s major property markets are showing signs of renewed activity in May 2026, with both Shanghai and Beijing reporting stronger buyer interest, higher transaction volumes, and faster decision-making.
In Ireland, our severe undersupply has created a system where greedy landlords prey on desperate renters and aspiring homeowners, extracting massive profits through property appreciation and sky-high rents.
To be fair, the Irish government has recently taken steps to address this, including the introduction of rent controls and a five-year plan to build 300,000 homes.
Still, the price difference is staggering. Monthly rent in the beautiful Chinese town where I live is 18 times lower than in Dublin. Purchasing a modern, two-bedroom apartment here costs on average about €40,000. In many parts of Ireland, you would pay nearly ten times that amount for the exact same thing.
Seeing this firsthand has only reinforced my belief in that opening principle: Houses are for living in, not for speculation.
Make sure to stick around for Part 3 of the series, where we talk about something that affects us all: healthcare.
Some Video Footage Courtesy of CCTV+
If you’d like to visit the Middle Kingdom, explore our Top 30 China Experiences.
