Cost of living in China
Summary of cost of living in China
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: $3,411 (24,103元)
- Single person estimated monthly costs: $2,120 (14,979元)
- Cost of living in China is cheaper than in 60% of countries in Asia (6 out of 10)
- Cost of living in China is cheaper than in 65% of countries in the World (40 out of 62)
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Exchange rate:0.14152 USD / CNY
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Exchange rate:0.14152 USD / CNY
↩ Change back to show only in CNY (Yuan Renminbi)
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CNY | USD | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 36元 | ($5.15) | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 38元 | ($5.33) | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 13元 | ($1.80) | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 15元 | ($2.06) | |
| 12 eggs, large | 15元 | ($2.12) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 10元 | ($1.46) | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 51元 | ($7) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 16元 | ($2.20) | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 6元 | ($0.90) | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 6元 | ($0.87) | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 88元 | ($12) | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 8元 | ($1.19) | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 12元 | ($1.68) | |
| Housing | |||
| CNY | USD | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 15,689元 | ($2,220) | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 7,762元 | ($1,098) | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 494元 | ($70) | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 6,859元 | ($971) | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 3,972元 | ($562) | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 335元 | ($47) | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 101元 | ($14) | |
| 40” flat screen tv | 1,494元 | ($211) | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 571元 | ($81) | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 38元 | ($5.34) | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 47元 | ($7) | |
| Clothes | |||
| CNY | USD | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 415元 | ($59) | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 280元 | ($40) | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 574元 | ($81) | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 717元 | ($101) | |
| Transportation | |||
| CNY | USD | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 152,522元 | ($21,585) | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 8元 | ($1.15) | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | 244元 | ($35) | |
| Personal Care | |||
| CNY | USD | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 41元 | ($5.74) | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 45元 | ($6) | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 111元 | ($16) | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 47元 | ($7) | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 44元 | ($6) | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 32元 | ($4.51) | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 9元 | ($1.20) | |
| Tube of toothpaste | 12元 | ($1.70) | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 79元 | ($11) | |
| Entertainment | |||
| CNY | USD | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 225元 | ($32) | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | 110元 | ($16) | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 481元 | ($68) | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 248元 | ($35) | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 77元 | ($11) | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 27元 | ($3.87) | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 14元 | ($1.97) | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 3,708元 | ($525) | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 1.19元 | ($0.17) | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 406元 | ($57) | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 25元 | ($3.57) | |
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 | 91 |
| 2nd | Beijing | 83 |
| 3rd | Hangzhou | 70 |
| 4th | Xiamen | 64 |
| 5th | Chongqing | 64 |
| 6th | Nanjing | 63 |
| 7th | Chengdu | 62 |
| 8th | Jiamusi | 61 |
| 9th | Dalian | 55 |
| 10th | Wuhan | 54 |
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 Shenzhen is 49% cheaper than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Beijing is 56% cheaper than in Denver, Colorado
- Cost of living in Beijing is 52% cheaper than in Seattle, Washington
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 777% more expensive than in Corrientes
- Cost of living in Nanchang is 55% cheaper than in Frankfurt am Main
- Cost of living in Jiangmen is 20% cheaper than in Essen
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 118% more expensive than in Karachi
- Cost of living in Chengdu is 34% cheaper than in Panama City
- Cost of living in Beijing is 87% more expensive than in Qom
- Cost of living in Chengdu is 400% more expensive than in Posadas
- Cost of living in Nanchang is 47% cheaper than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Shanghai is about the same as in Istanbul
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 47% cheaper than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Shanghai is about the same as in Bangkok
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 7% cheaper than in Perugia
- Cost of living in Zhuhai is 40% cheaper than in Christchurch
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 161% more expensive than in Omsk
- Cost of living in Lanzhou is 18% more expensive than in La Plata
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is 786% more expensive than in Tandil
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 20% cheaper than in Tokyo