Straightforward question, but not a straightforward answer 
Depending on which dictionary you use, and whether or not you only count characters currently in use, the number of Chinese characters can range from 20,000 to over 47,000 
But how many would you guys say you actually NEED for life in China? Also, how much does this vary in terms of just surviving vs being proficient?
I’m speaking from a Japanese perspective which is similar but not the same. I would say at around 1000 characters you should feel like pretty confident about your hanzi / kanji and there will definitely be more showing up that you don’t know but it won’t be so damn painful. Your brain should be used to hanzi/kanji in general or getting close to that point so when you see a new one you can learn it pretty easily or just skip it without feeling like you’re lazy/stupid.