Random questions...

Hello "D" - I live in Pudong (which literally means east).  Budgeting will be key, but your husband's salary is doable.  Once you get to Shanghai, part-time employment opportunities for you are good.  Now, the pay isn't anything to write home about, but  with a little networking you'll be able to find some fun work in no time.

Staying in a serviced apartment in a hotel (Ramada is a good one in Jinqiao)for a month is a good thing.  If you need a realtor I will be glad to recommend ours.  Be warned that laundry service in a serviced apartment is OUTRAGEOUS (ie $3US for one pair of underwear) and there's no such thing as a laundry mat (do it yourself) facility in Shanghai.  There are launderers that are just as expensive as the hotel laundry services.  It's quite the phenomenon - for one visit to the launderer you could hire an ayi for a month. So, when searching for an apartment be sure there is at least a washer.

Vaccinations - we're current on things folks stay current on, and we got nothing special to live here. 

Water - home delivery of water is cheap.  We happen to live in an apartment with a reverse osmosis filtration system, but we still only drink, cook, and wash vegetables with the  delivered water.  So, other than a bit of lifestyle changes water really isn't an issue. 

Shoes, tampons, skincare products, etc. - I would suggest bringing them.  Furniture, appliances and anything else can be had here much more cheaply than it would cost to ship over.  And apartments are generally furnished - so no worries with furniture other than lamps and accessories.  Once you're here there are tons of places I'll be glad to share with you for buying dishes, linens, accessories, plants, etc.  Prices are awesome! 

I would highly suggest hooking up with the folks at the Shanghai Community Center - visit http://www.communitycenter.cn and also I have many links (and the list is growing) at my little website http://yonderways.com.

Best!

Hello,

I have been in Shanghai from 6 months now, so not a real Shanghaiese yet, but I have found very easy to settle down here.
I leave in a former french concession, which helps. It's a sort of Chinatown the otherway round, and I sometime forget that I am in China... So do not worry life is easy here !

As for your income, it depends if you have to pay for your appartment or if it is paid by your husband's company. (for mest expatriates, companies are paying directly the rent).
If you do not have to pay for it, your income will be more than fine. Here, life is not expensive except for the rent.

I am French and was leaving in Italia before (the paradise of shopping) and I am saving a lot of money here...So, as for what you have to bring with you, I will advise mainly shoes, as it is very difficult to find nice one here . And if you like fashion, it's better to bring clothes with you also. If you like more basic outfits, you can have everything made in the different fabric markets, it's cheap.

Hope you will enjoy Shanghai.