Where is a good place to live in or near Shanghai, China?

My wife and I (plus 2 kids) are moving to China next year for her job. We live in a 5bd/3ba in Marietta, GA now, but would like to find a nice 3bd/2ba condo style home in Shanghai thats comparable in amenties. I realize space is a premium, but we want something decent without having to travel too far from her job and things to do. We are planning to go as expats, so we have some benefits. Also what are the possibilities of a job for me (I am a manager at Wal-Mart)? How much is furniture average cost (sofas, bedrooms, TVs) and utilities? We were once entertaining the thought of living in downtown Atlanta, but the cost of a decent condo runs a small fortune. Are there any really helpful websites that will help us look at rentals, furniture, travel expenses etc? Try to be as specific as possible so when we do our pre-move trip we will go fully prepared with some personal tips.

I have lived in China for four years and was in Shanghai at my friend's condo last weekend. I live in Beijing...biz trip. Anyways, the most affluent and most modern apartments you'll find in Pudong, and expect prices to run similar to alot of big cities in the states...my friend has a nice 2 bedroom condo, albeit a little cozy, but well furnished/decorated/modern, with Statuettes, et. all in the courtyard...really nice place actually...they have somewhat of a bargain though and pay 3,500rmb...US 500/months plus utilities...they're about 20 minutes from the famous BUndt/Nanjing lu, etc..(I assume you've done some research?)...anyways, you'll probably be looking at 750-1000 US/month if you're just arriving and have children. Some places are very luxurious, heated floors, etc...
China is changing fast. You'll like Shanghai, it's a happening city...safe, clean, (still building in some areas)...the traffic can be a nuisance...and there's loads of foreign cafes/restaurants in case you feel like a taste of home...
Come to Beijing if you have the chance (airfare and China rail/overnite train are both very developed/modern and cheap) You definitely won't regret it!
What am I a tour guide? Advice? Try to learn the language...just for practical things...and then build from there...makes things much easier and you gain a sense of self worth. Also, coming from N.America, keep in mind while you live here that China is a country of 1.3 billion and it has only been developing for 25 years...although Shanghai is about as modern/cosmopolitan as it comes...the West esp. and some rural areas are still have much work. This is not the West. Have a great experience.
P.S. CLose to Shanghai...Suzhou is a beautiful city only about an hour away, also Wuxi, and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province...

en la murallla china... es un buen lugar
A HOUSE........
theres a bigger possibility that you will be placed in puxi, the larger half of the city. most people end of living there.
if you want your kids to go to an international school, shanghai american school is the best choice. there is a puxi and a pudong section to accomodate those who live on both sides of the river.
if you wish to live near that school, there is shanghai racquet club and forest manor, within around a 5min walking distance from SAS. plus, they are both filled with foreigners. the SRC are apartment houses that are not too big, but they have great facilities. forest manor have very large expensive houses that are beautifully designed inside and out. most people who live there purchase a club membership with the SRC for recreational and sports purposes. within a 2min walking distance from SAS is rancho santa fe, and the are currently builing another set of apartments. rancho santa fe is spanish styled houses that are also quite big, definatley not as big as forest manor, but also really beautiful.
however, this quite a while away from downtown and shopping areas. to live closer to that, you would live in Gubei, where they have a carrefour shopping center (which is like huge grocery store). many people live around that area, therefore making it slightly trafficked and over crowded all the time.
but however far you live, dont worry, SAS will provide buses to school.
lived in shanghai for 5 years.
i live in china and the city you should go to is Shangha i. There is not a chance for you to get a good job in china unless your under 30(dont ask me why)In china furnitures are not expensive,but there crappy.
There is also a really nice city near shanghai called wux,in wuxi there is this house place called Taihu Venicee Gardens, in taihu venice gardens there are mostly foreign people living there. There is a swimming pool,shop,a place to get international food,taihu international school where they speak english... if u want more info e-mail me