Cost of living in China
Are you moving to China? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in China of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
| Food | ||
|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 元54 | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) | 元32 | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 元16 | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 元16 | |
| 12 eggs, large | 元15 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 元9 | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 元66 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 元14 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 元7 | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 元5.27 | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 元108 | |
| 2 liters of Coca-Cola | 元8 | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 元13 | |
| Housing | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area | 元10,325 | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area | 元5,254 | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 元447 | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area | 元5,478 | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in NORMAL area | 元3,863 | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 Sqft) studio | 元325 | |
| Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) | 元98 | |
| 40” flat screen TV | 元2,406 | |
| Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) | 元683 | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 元41 | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 元34 | |
| Clothes | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar) | 元556 | |
| 1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) | 元271 | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) | 元649 | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 元698 | |
| Transportation | ||
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 元146,576 | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 元7 | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 元152 | |
| Personal Care | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 元26 | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 元37 | |
| Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) | 元259 | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) | 元32 | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 元40 | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 元35 | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 元10 | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 元11 | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 元62 | |
| Entertainment | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 元165 | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 元99 | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 元871 | |
| Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 元406 | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 元66 | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 元34 | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 元34 | |
| iPad Wi-Fi 128GB | 元3,273 | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 元11 | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 元416 | |
| 1 package of Marlboro cigarettes | 元20 | |
Map of Cost of Living in China
This map shows only the top cities in China. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan.
The color of each marker corresponds with the Cost of Living in the city. Red markers show more expensive cities, green ones show cheaper cities.
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in China
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Beijing | 131 |
| 2nd | Shanghai | 129 |
| 3rd | Shenzhen | 112 |
| 4th | Hangzhou | 100 |
| 5th | Guangzhou | 98 |
| 6th | Chengdu | 94 |
| 7th | Nanjing | 91 |
| 8th | Lianyungang | 81 |
| 9th | Qingdao | 78 |
| 10th | Fushun | 78 |
| 11th | Dezhou | 67 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to China? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in China of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in China
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 4% more expensive than in Beijing
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 38% cheaper than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Beijing is 33% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 44% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 32% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Shanghai is about the same as in Cleveland, Ohio
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 29% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 13% cheaper than in Seoul
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 7% cheaper than in Albany, New York
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 46% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Beijing is about the same as in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 40% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 16% cheaper than in Vienna
- Cost of living in Beijing is 34% more expensive than in Santo Domingo
- Cost of living in Beijing is 47% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Shijiazhuang is 30% cheaper than in Shanghai
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 15% more expensive than in Taipei
- Cost of living in Suizhou is 26% more expensive than in Santo Domingo
- Cost of living in Wenzhou is 20% more expensive than in Minsk
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 25% cheaper than in Seoul
Compare other countries
Recent Prices Added
- 4 rolls of toilet paper in Beijing costs 元7 (about 13 hours ago)
- 1 month of gym membership in business district in Hangzhou costs 元350 (about 22 hours ago)
- 1 pt. beer in neighbourhood pub in Hangzhou costs 元40 (about 22 hours ago)
- Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city in Hangzhou costs 元40 (about 22 hours ago)
- Men’s leather business shoes in Hangzhou costs 元600 (about 22 hours ago)
- Sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) in Hangzhou costs 元600 (about 22 hours ago)
- Hourly rate for domestic cleaning help in Hangzhou costs 元50 (about 22 hours ago)
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Hangzhou costs 元7,000 (about 22 hours ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Hangzhou costs 元11,000 (about 22 hours ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Hangzhou costs 元500 (about 22 hours ago)