I am consultant with a glass company and mostly stayed in hotels paid by my company.I am canadian and have worked in many chinese cities,
Xiamen is very clean city and very nice to stay, you will be surprised that china has improved so much when you see xiamen.
here you will find all kind of foreighners working.all kind of hotels and dance clubs.food is good and cheap.pizza hut,mcdonalds and KFC is here, few walmart stores and a metro store also.i cant tell you about rents as i stayed in hotel.things are not expensive,most things you can find here except timms.
good luck.
Paul