You often hear people, usually tourists, comment on how cheap everything is in China. And in a large majority of cases, that is quite true – China has a wide variety of products you can find for much less than you can in most of the Western world. But as is true with most everything in life, there are exceptions. While some items may be exponentially cheaper in China, you'll often find that the quality is not the same (sometimes not even close). Or you'll occasionally run into items that are much more expensive here than they are back in your home country. These inconsistencies occur for various reasons and with seemingly random products. Below is a list of items you can buy in China that are relative bargains but that still give you good – or at the very least decent - value for your money. This is followed by a list of products that are best bought outside of China, both for price and quality considerations. While China is certainly still a shopping paradise for many items, it's ultimately better to pick and choose what to buy here.

Shop in China for:

1) Custom-made clothing
While Vietnam is giving it a run for its money, China still has a firm grip on the custom-made clothing market. It's not hard to find custom tailors and seamstresses who are willing and able to make your clothing dreams come true. Men's dress shirts can range anywhere from 40 RMB to 100 RMB, while ladies' dresses tend to run a bit more depending on the intricacy and length. Choose from the abundance of fabric these markets have on hand, or bring your own from an independent fabric shop to save even more. Just remember the golden rule – negotiate!

2) DVD's
This one requires a disclaimer – I'm not talking about those DVD's you see sold on wooden carts scattered on the sidewalks throughout town. No, I'm referring to those DVD's you can purchase in an actual shop. Granted, they're all illegally downloaded and copied regardless of where you buy them, but the store-bought ones are of infinitely higher quality and only tend to run a few renminbi more than the streetside ones. Plus, if for some reason you find yourself with a dud, most stores are willing to replace the DVD with a new one (or, if they no longer carry that particular title, they'll swap it with another one of your choice).

3) (Fake) Luxury brands
When people speak of how cheap China is, chances are that they have these fake markets in mind. Louis Vuitton handbags, Jimmy Choo heels, Apple iPhones, Rosetta Stone language learning discs... you can find all of these brands and more practically anywhere you turn in China – that is, you can find fake versions of them. Some markets have impressively decent fakes, while others are quite obviously not the real thing. Regardless, it's certainly the best – and cheapest – way to stock your wardrobe and house with the latest “brand name” items!

4) Food
While expats often wax nostalgic over their favourite goodies from home, if you embrace the Chinese culinary traditions, you'll find that you can eat quite cheap both at home and in restaurants. Fresh produce is a fraction of the cost that it is in other countries, while ingredients to make your favourite Chinese dishes will never break the bank (a stack of over 100 baozi skins, for example, runs about 1 RMB). Or visit your local noodle shop for a hearty portion of la mian for less than you would probably pay for a soda back home.

5) Medicine
While it's always a good idea to bring your personal medication from home (at least initially), it is possible – and often profitable – to look for that medication here in China. Certain medications that are prescription only in Western countries (such as birth control) are available over the counter here – and at much lower prices. Additionally, if a medicine does need a prescription, you don't necessarily need to go to one of those expensive international doctors for a refill. If you can find the exact name of your medication in Chinese, you can often just go to a local hospital, show it to a doctor, and he or she will write out a prescription for you without any need for an examination.

Shop outside of China for:

1) Electronics
Besides the fact that you will never really know if you're buying the real thing or not (unless, of course, you visit a registered retailer, like the Apple stores cropping up throughout China), electronics here in China are usually inferior quality and absurdly priced. DVD players, televisions and computer equipment are all known to fall apart within a couple years, necessitating that you go out and buy a new one. Save your money and frustration by buying these products elsewhere.

2) Makeup
Not only is it hard to find makeup in shades that will suit foreigners (and that doesn't contain some sort of skin bleaching component), it's just plain expensive. Blushes, lipsticks, and eyeliners that you can find for under the equivalent of 75 RMB elsewhere in the world will often run you closer to 200 RMB or 300 RMB in China. It's much easier to stock up in your home country and avoid the potential pain of your empty pockets.

3) (Real) Luxury Brands
By now you've most likely heard about China's infamous luxury tax, that pesky little (er, big) tax put on all things deemed frivolous – that means designer brand shoes, watches, jewellery, clothing – basically the real versions of all those things you can find at a fraction of the cost in fake markets. The percentage of this tax varies but can extend northwards of 30%, making it a bad idea to buy anything here that is considered a “luxury.”

4) Cars
I'm not even necessarily talking about the ridiculously high end cars like Lamborghinis and Ferraris (see “luxury tax” above) – even plain, run of the mill cars cost more in China. Add to that the additional expense of having to pay a hefty price for the license plate (in large cities like Shanghai and Beijing, a monthly silent bid is held to decide who receives a license plate, with the price averaging around 10,000 RMB) and the need to pay for parking, and public transportation sounds better and better.

5) Health/Beauty Products
Some of the items we most take for granted – shampoo, conditioner, body wash – can be surprisingly high in China. While there are few brand names available in your average Chinese store, the few names you do recognise such as Pantene Pro-V or Head & Shoulders aren't of the same quality they are in Western countries. Body lotion and sunscreen (again, that don't try to bleach your skin) are also difficult to find and quite expensive when you do.
 

Related links
Minimum Expenses, Maximum Savings: How to Live in China Cheaply
How to Save Thousands through Online Shopping in China
The Land of the Cheap: Why the US is Shopping Paradise for Chinese

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Keywords: Is China shopping paradise what to buy in China what not to buy in China luxury goods China