A 2026 survey by 58.com and 58 Anjuke Research Institute found 82.5% of
graduates prefer to work in their university city. First rentals are more often
chosen near employers than campuses, suggesting student-era living circles
persist. Respondents may trade up on rental quality but most aim to keep housing
costs below 30% of income. Major cities — Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou —
remain most attractive; over 70% plan to buy their first home in their current
city or nearby.
