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53 | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar) | 元33 | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 元15 | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 元16 | |
| 12 eggs, large | 元16 | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 元8 | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 元62 | |
| 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5.68 | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 元113 | |
| 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9,961 | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in NORMAL area | 元4,816 | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 元445 | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in EXPENSIVE area | 元5,460 | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in NORMAL area | 元3,552 | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 Sqft) studio | 元317 | |
| Internet 8 Mbps (1 month) | 元84 | |
| 40” flat screen TV | 元2,420 | |
| Microwave 800/900 Watt (Bosch, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, or equivalent brands) | 元670 | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 元40 | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 元39 | |
| Clothes | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (Levis 501 or similar) | 元528 | |
| 1 summer dress in a High Street Store (Zara, H&M or similar retailers) | 元270 | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) | 元621 | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 元680 | |
| Transportation | ||
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 150 CV (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 元142,889 | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 元7 | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 元146 | |
| Personal Care | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (Tylenol, Frenadol, Coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 元26 | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 元40 | |
| Short visit to private Doctor (15 minutes) | 元263 | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (Tampax, OB, ...) | 元30 | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 元38 | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 元39 | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 元9 | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 元13 | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 元60 | |
| Entertainment | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 元165 | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 元93 | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 元826 | |
| Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 元403 | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 元61 | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 元34 | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 元32 | |
| iPad Wi-Fi 128GB | 元3,320 | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 元0.65 | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 元355 | |
| 1 package of Marlboro cigarettes | 元21 | |
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 | Shanghai | 122 |
| 2nd | Beijing | 115 |
| 3rd | Shenzhen | 105 |
| 4th | Guangzhou | 94 |
| 5th | Hangzhou | 94 |
| 6th | Nanjing | 84 |
| 7th | Chengdu | 77 |
| 8th | Lianyungang | 75 |
| 9th | Qingdao | 75 |
| 10th | Fushun | 74 |
| 11th | Dezhou | 66 |
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 5% more expensive than in Bari
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 28% cheaper than in Milan
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 43% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Shanghai is about the same as in Taipei
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 34% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 44% cheaper than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Zhuhai is 50% cheaper than in Coventry
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 22% more expensive than in Valparaiso
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 6% more expensive than in Beijing
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 32% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 25% cheaper than in Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 29% cheaper than in Helsinki
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 46% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 13% cheaper than in Richmond, Virginia
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 48% cheaper than in San Francisco, California
- Cost of living in Hangzhou is 32% cheaper than in Richmond, Virginia
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 41% more expensive than in Qingdao
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is about the same as in Shenzhen
- Cost of living in Nanjing is 47% cheaper than in Munich
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 18% more expensive than in Shenyang
Compare other countries
Recent Prices Added
- Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Shanghai costs 元280,000 (2 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in normal area in Shanghai costs 元7,000 (4 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Shanghai costs 元10,000 (4 days ago)
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Shanghai costs 元10,000 (4 days ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Shanghai costs 元15,000 (4 days ago)
- Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district in Beijing costs 元98 (6 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Xiamen costs 元35 (8 days ago)
- 2 tickets to the movies in Xiamen costs 元70 (8 days ago)
- Short visit to private doctor in Xiamen costs 元150 (8 days ago)
- Taxi, initial meter charge, weekday at noon in Xiamen costs 元10 (8 days ago)