Cost of living in China
Summary of cost of living in China
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 17,313元
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 8,858元
- Cost of living in China is cheaper than in 67% of countries in Asia (8 out of 12)
- Cost of living in China is cheaper than in 64% of countries in the World (54 out of 85)
Change the currency:
| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 43元 | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 34元 | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 16元 | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 14元 | ||
| 12 eggs, large | 14元 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 9元 | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 51元 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 14元 | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 6元 | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 5.41元 | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 96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 | 7,537元 | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 4,339元 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 429元 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 5,233元 | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 2,795元 | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 285元 | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 88元 | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | 2,333元 | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 513元 | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 40元 | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 51元 | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 453元 | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 227元 | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 599元 | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 539元 | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 133,737元 | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 7元 | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | 156元 | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 33元 | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 32元 | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 335元 | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 43元 | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 52元 | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 35元 | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 9元 | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | 12元 | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 74元 | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 185元 | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | 96元 | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 1,146元 | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 371元 | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 68元 | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 33元 | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 29元 | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 3,242元 | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.28元 | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 284元 | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 21元 | ||
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 | 127 |
| 2nd | Beijing | 108 |
| 3rd | Shenzhen | 105 |
| 4th | Suzhou | 102 |
| 5th | Hangzhou | 92 |
| 6th | Nanjing | 87 |
| 7th | Chengdu | 81 |
| 8th | Qingdao | 81 |
| 9th | Fushun | 75 |
| 10th | Wuhan | 72 |
| 11th | Kunming | 72 |
| 12th | Dezhou | 68 |
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 15% more expensive than in Daegu
- Cost of living in Chengdu is 20% cheaper than in Guangzhou
- Cost of living in Chongqing is 23% cheaper than in Dammam
- Cost of living in Shenzhen is about the same as in Lagos
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 75% more expensive than in Xian
- Cost of living in Taiyuan is 58% cheaper than in Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 44% cheaper than in Hong Kong
- Cost of living in Yanji is 31% cheaper than in Seoul
- Cost of living in Nanning is 42% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Wuhan is 43% cheaper than in Shanghai
- Cost of living in Beijing is about the same as in Riga
- Cost of living in Guilin is 29% cheaper than in Shanghai
- Cost of living in Jining is 26% cheaper than in Manila
- Cost of living in Shanghai is 26% cheaper than in Melbourne
- Cost of living in Chengdu is 36% cheaper than in Shanghai
- Cost of living in Chongqing is 39% cheaper than in Kingston
- Cost of living in Taiyuan is 18% more expensive than in Punasa
- Cost of living in Chengdu is about the same as in Ningbo
- Cost of living in Beijing is 58% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Ningbo is 45% cheaper than in Nottingham
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Shanghai costs 30元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Shanghai costs 40元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Shanghai costs 120元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Shanghai costs 500元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Shanghai costs 300元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city in Shanghai costs 50元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Men’s leather business shoes in Shanghai costs 1,200元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) in Shanghai costs 1,000元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) in Shanghai costs 150元 (about 16 hours ago)
- Internet connection 300 mbps, 1 month in Shanghai costs 200元 (about 16 hours ago)