Cost of living in China
Summary of cost of living in China
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 22,112元
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 13,399元
- Cost of living in China is cheaper than in 45% of countries in Asia (5 out of 11)
- Cost of living in China is more expensive than in 54% of countries in the World (32 out of 68)
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 45元 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 36元 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 16元 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 15元 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | 16元 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 9元 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 49元 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 13元 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 5.68元 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 6元 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 113元 | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 8元 | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 13元 | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 12,793元 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 7,580元 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 330元 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 6,692元 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 4,369元 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 431元 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 101元 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | 1,837元 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 521元 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 29元 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 47元 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 527元 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 262元 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 655元 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 794元 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 142,424元 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 7元 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | 182元 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 29元 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 34元 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 639元 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 21元 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 26元 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 29元 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 11元 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | 10元 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 94元 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 266元 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | 105元 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 759元 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 377元 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 72元 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 31元 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 22元 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 3,037元 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.24元 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 418元 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 30元 | ||
Moving to China with your children?
International Schools in China
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:
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 | 134 |
| 2nd | Beijing | 109 |
| 3rd | Shenzhen | 109 |
| 4th | Suzhou | 101 |
| 5th | Hangzhou | 93 |
| 6th | Nanjing | 85 |
| 7th | Chengdu | 83 |
| 8th | Qingdao | 79 |
| 9th | Wuhan | 71 |
| 10th | Mianyang | 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 14% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 28% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Beijing is 19% cheaper than in Shanghai
- Cost of living in Beijing is 29% more expensive than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in Hohhot is 17% more expensive than in Port-au-Prince
- Cost of living in Zibo is about the same as in Port Vila, Vanuatu
- Cost of living in Beijing is about the same as in Manama
- Cost of living in Zhengzhou is 52% cheaper than in Perth
- Cost of living in Hangzhou is 36% cheaper than in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Cost of living in Beijing is 14% more expensive than in Aveiro
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 43% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Beijing is 43% cheaper than in Singapore
- Cost of living in Nanjing is 26% cheaper than in Taipei
- Cost of living in Nanjing is 29% cheaper than in Groningen
- Cost of living in Taiyuan is about the same as in Villahermosa
- Cost of living in Wenzhou is 38% more expensive than in Campeche
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 4% more expensive than in Barcelona
- Cost of living in Shijiazhuang is 19% cheaper than in Suzhou
- Cost of living in Zibo is 15% cheaper than in Qingdao
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 22% cheaper than in Madison, Wisconsin
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 2 liters of coca-cola in Shanghai costs 2.00元 (4 days ago)
- 500 ml domestic beer in the supermarket in Shanghai costs 10元 (4 days ago)
- 1 kg of apples in Shanghai costs 4.50元 (4 days ago)
- 500 g of boneless chicken breast in Shanghai costs 7元 (4 days ago)
- 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) in Shanghai costs 0.20元 (7 days ago)
- Men’s leather business shoes in Shanghai costs 800元 (8 days ago)
- Sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) in Shanghai costs 300元 (8 days ago)
- Summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) in Shanghai costs 150元 (8 days ago)
- Jeans (levis 501 or similar) in Shanghai costs 500元 (8 days ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Shanghai costs 150元 (8 days ago)