Cost of Living in China - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: China
Address: CN

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $490 (excluding rent), and $791 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,178 (excluding rent), and $1,767 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 ¥19.51

$2.11 ¥14.61

$7.04 ¥48.66

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.62 ¥163

$15.29 ¥106

$48.63 ¥336

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ¥34.35

$4.27 ¥29.49

$6.69 ¥46.20

Cappuccino

$3.14 ¥21.66

$1.43 ¥9.87

$5.01 ¥34.59

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ¥3.07

$0.40 ¥2.73

$1.64 ¥11.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.84

$0.24 ¥1.64

$0.71 ¥4.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ¥6.40

$0.67 ¥4.62

$2.67 ¥18.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ¥14.37

$1.38 ¥9.55

$4.16 ¥28.73

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 ¥12.70

$1.41 ¥9.73

$2.85 ¥19.68

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ¥11.17

$0.82 ¥5.69

$3.41 ¥23.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ¥6.62

$0.54 ¥3.73

$1.56 ¥10.77

Eggs

$1.56 ¥10.76

$0.82 ¥5.68

$2.46 ¥16.99

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 ¥91.1

$6.31 ¥43.58

$28.01 ¥194

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.21 ¥22.15

$1.49 ¥10.30

$5.43 ¥37.50

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.89 ¥75.3

$5.66 ¥39.14

$16.99 ¥117

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 ¥12.20

$0.69 ¥4.77

$2.75 ¥19.02

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 ¥8.64

$0.76 ¥5.24

$2.75 ¥18.97

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ¥10.53

$0.58 ¥3.98

$3.29 ¥22.77

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ¥7.95

$0.55 ¥3.81

$1.92 ¥13.25

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 ¥5.28

$0.29 ¥2.00

$1.43 ¥9.91

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 ¥6.14

$0.41 ¥2.87

$1.65 ¥11.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ¥4.24

$0.29 ¥2.01

$1.16 ¥7.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.72

$0.35 ¥2.43

$0.82 ¥5.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥23.33

$2.71 ¥18.70

$4.72 ¥32.65

Wine (Bottle)

$11.67 ¥80.6

$5.83 ¥40.27

$21.87 ¥151

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥5.39

$0.40 ¥2.79

$1.34 ¥9.25

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ¥11.54

$0.99 ¥6.82

$2.84 ¥19.63

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.98

$0.29 ¥1.99

$0.72 ¥4.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.93 ¥145

$12.55 ¥86.7

$41.86 ¥289

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ¥9.74

$1.13 ¥7.78

$2.26 ¥15.62

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.44

$0.28 ¥1.94

$0.49 ¥3.38

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.48 ¥44.78

$4.05 ¥28.02

$10.81 ¥74.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥8.04

$1.05 ¥7.27

$1.24 ¥8.60

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.3K ¥133.1K

$16.5K ¥114.1K

$20.6K ¥142.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.0K ¥117.4K

$14.0K ¥97.0K

$21.0K ¥145.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$51.3 ¥354

$29.73 ¥205

$92.5 ¥639

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.84 ¥68.0

$4.16 ¥28.72

$17.72 ¥122

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.49 ¥79.4

$7.07 ¥48.86

$21.22 ¥147

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.28 ¥278

$14.08 ¥97.3

$113 ¥778

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.78 ¥102

$6.95 ¥48.04

$27.82 ¥192

Cinema Ticket

$6.41 ¥44.30

$4.98 ¥34.41

$8.55 ¥59.1

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$403 ¥2,787

$205 ¥1,419

$1,264 ¥8,733

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.9K ¥123.5K

$8,491 ¥58.7K

$35.4K ¥244.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.91 ¥317

$18.08 ¥125

$97.4 ¥673

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.39 ¥224

$13.72 ¥94.8

$54.9 ¥379

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.2 ¥492

$41.36 ¥286

$110 ¥762

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ¥511

$41.75 ¥289

$139 ¥962

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$436 ¥3,013

$209 ¥1,441

$999 ¥6,901

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 ¥1,752

$138 ¥952

$557 ¥3,850

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 ¥6,219

$412 ¥2,844

$2,453 ¥17.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 ¥3,787

$283 ¥1,954

$1,208 ¥8,345

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,140 ¥35.5K

$2,159 ¥14.9K

$13.7K ¥94.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,676 ¥18.5K

$1,305 ¥9,018

$7,159 ¥49.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,024 ¥7,079

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

5.2

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: March 3, 2026

By City in China

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Ankang	894853	33	$466	$658	$1,035	$1,415	342.83	351.61
2	Anqing	4165284	33	$460	$653	$1,184	$1,373	295.27	301.84
3	Anshan	1543696	28	$445	$546	$1,005	$1,213	57.56	412.01
4	Anyang	1147000	34	$492	$678	$1,246	$1,478	59.26	250.75
5	Baiquan	-	36	$463	$702	$1,159	$1,535	95.81	315.71
6	Baoding	11437217	29	$464	$575	$1,008	$1,257	112.63	585.72
7	Baoji	1438000	32	$434	$642	$872	$1,322	193.39	297.43
8	Baotou	2709378	37	$437	$732	$1,076	$1,644	24.69	251.03
9	Beihai	1617500	36	$460	$718	$1,106	$1,564	39.29	133.62
10	Beijing (Pekin)	21893095	54	$559	$1,053	$1,358	$2,474	26.15	193.97
11	Bengbu	3296408	33	$420	$652	$1,017	$1,452	56.34	315.44
12	Benxi	809655	33	$440	$650	$882	$1,205	202.97	298.63
13	Binzhou	3748500	39	$614	$771	$1,281	$1,651	148.91	290.16
14	Bortala	246706	36	$440	$703	$1,125	$1,566	106.53	86.26
15	Bozhou	1537231	34	$408	$695	$1,119	$1,526	317.25	421.6
16	Changchun	9066906	37	$434	$735	$1,057	$1,499	190.43	233.36
17	Changde	5717200	34	$452	$667	$949	$1,465	67.81	48.28
18	Changsha	5289000	38	$549	$747	$1,286	$1,703	65.89	206.52
19	Changshu	1677050	36	$479	$704	$1,159	$1,568	36.86	350.28
20	Changzhou	5278121	35	$509	$691	$1,102	$1,589	180.3	342.73
21	Chaozhou	2568387	31	$412	$632	$1,107	$1,371	295.1	69.19
22	Chengdu	20937757	34	$454	$691	$1,138	$1,514	31.7	100.94
23	Chenzhou	4667134	36	$556	$727	$1,074	$1,585	40.22	184.42
24	Chifeng	1175391	36	$477	$714	$1,156	$1,569	34.75	356.19
25	Chongqing	1564449	31	$421	$613	$1,066	$1,406	69.96	84.52
26	Chuzhou	3987054	34	$521	$675	$1,091	$1,474	289.77	349.58
27	Cixi	1829488	36	$471	$701	$1,163	$1,554	285.36	367.61
28	Dalian	7450785	40	$519	$796	$1,344	$1,703	250.73	399.36
29	Datong	3318057	36	$481	$713	$1,126	$1,564	0.76	333.17
30	Dongguan	8254100	38	$517	$756	$1,288	$1,643	206.67	131.01
31	Dongying	2035300	36	$475	$718	$1,137	$1,558	27.44	331.03
32	Foshan	9498863	37	$537	$726	$1,276	$1,656	104.96	191.34
33	Fushun	1322098	36	$545	$716	$1,063	$1,551	118.15	341.03
34	Fuzhou	8291268	40	$571	$798	$1,336	$1,721	260.84	207.37
35	Gongzhuling	862313	29	$316	$585	$842	$1,249	291.09	422.25
36	Guangzhou (Canton)	14043500	43	$533	$850	$1,252	$1,994	118.61	127.82
37	Guilin	4931137	34	$495	$668	$1,077	$1,484	60.18	161.53
38	Guiyang	4324561	36	$480	$718	$1,160	$1,525	86.57	195.21
39	Guizhou	-	29	$418	$575	$1,088	$1,279	118.55	226.24
40	Haikou	2873358	39	$457	$775	$1,122	$1,644	75.32	118.35
41	Handan	9413990	35	$426	$715	$1,165	$1,544	76.16	312.1
42	Hangzhou	10360000	45	$556	$899	$1,344	$2,038	83.13	364.06
43	Hanzhong	3416196	33	$460	$674	$919	$1,468	77.09	414.59
44	Harbin	10009854	44	$517	$870	$1,371	$1,958	329.07	346.89
45	Hefei	9369881	38	$535	$758	$1,197	$1,637	238.31	345.93
46	Heyuan	2953019	38	$457	$763	$1,149	$1,642	52.52	131.07
47	Heze	8795939	36	$493	$721	$984	$1,557	168.07	333.94
48	Hohhot	3446100	35	$523	$710	$1,118	$1,540	229.52	428
49	Huai'an	4799889	36	$483	$706	$1,128	$1,580	126.97	286.1
50	Huaibei	1970265	36	$468	$722	$1,132	$1,559	141.21	421.91

China Median Internet Speeds (Updated January 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in China - Frequently Asked Questions

In China, affordability shifts by city, neighborhood, and lifestyle. The Cost of Living in China varies from ultramodern metropolises to quieter towns, so you’ll find both budget-friendly and premium options depending on where you stay. Expats and digital nomads often value housing with good transit links, nearby cafes or coworking spaces, and access to local markets for groceries. Food and transport tend to be efficient and affordable when you favor public transit and street-food-style meals over tourist hubs. Seasonal tourism can tweak prices for short-term stays, but flexibility and planning pay off. Tip: map your must-haves first, then test different areas to balance cost and daily comfort.

In big cities, housing options range from apartment-sharing to polished rentals, often with upfront deposits and negotiation windows; in smaller cities, searches can be quicker and rents more flexible. Daily life leans on local markets, convenience stores, and a robust dining scene, with regional flavors to explore. Transport is well-developed: metros, buses, and bikes are common; ride-hailing is convenient for longer trips. Co-working spaces vary from compact studios to larger hubs with amenities. Errands mix online apps and in-person trips; most payments move through digital wallets. China living cost trends downshift in secondary towns, but seasonality and event periods can shift you a notch. Tip: schedule a few exploratory days in different neighborhoods before committing.

Quality of life in China hinges on pace, access to everyday services, and the blend of city energy with nearby nature. Build a simple budgeting framework: separate fixed costs (housing, utilities) from flexible expenses (food, entertainment), and track irregulars by season. Neighborhood fit matters: prefer areas with walkability, good public transit, and a mix of cafes, markets, and parks. Seasonal patterns influence crowds, travel deals, and service availability, so factor holidays and climate when planning longer stays. Side tips: use local homestays or serviced apartments for longer trials and take advantage of coworking communities to network. Tip: choose a neighborhood that minimizes daily commutes and maximizes access to what you value most.