Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bengbu and Hangzhou

For one person, living is cheaper in Bengbu: $666 a month against $1,020 in Hangzhou, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bengbu
🇨🇳 China
$666
/mo nomad
Hangzhou
🇨🇳 China
$1,020
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bengbu and in Hangzhou

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bengbu and in Hangzhou actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Bengbu versus $1,020 in Hangzhou.

  • Bengbu $666
  • Hangzhou $1,020

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Bengbu versus $1,566 in Hangzhou.

  • Bengbu $1,043
  • Hangzhou $1,566

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,420 in Bengbu versus $2,112 in Hangzhou.

  • Bengbu $1,420
  • Hangzhou $2,112

Living in Bengbu costs roughly 35% less than in Hangzhou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bengbu 51% lower, Hangzhou 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31 ¥15.42
$3.77 ¥25.22
-38.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.50 ¥70.2
$25.72 ¥172
-59.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 ¥31.80
$4.54 ¥30.33
4.85%
Cappuccino
$3.15 ¥21.08
$3.35 ¥22.38
-5.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.16
$0.59 ¥3.97
-20.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 ¥1.66
$0.33 ¥2.24
-24.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.45 ¥9.67
$1.18 ¥7.90
22.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 ¥14.74
$2.21 ¥14.75
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥14.56
$1.86 ¥12.44
17.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ¥6.82
$1.59 ¥10.60
-35.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.85
$1.12 ¥7.51
-35.71%
Eggs
$1.32 ¥8.82
$2.01 ¥13.42
-34.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.42 ¥69.7
$18.92 ¥127
-44.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.04 ¥20.30
$3.78 ¥25.25
-19.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.00 ¥60.2
$10.01 ¥66.9
-10.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.03
$2.28 ¥15.23
-34.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.13
$1.41 ¥9.43
-24.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.16
$1.52 ¥10.16
-
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 ¥5.22
$1.55 ¥10.39
-49.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 ¥4.16
$0.89 ¥5.93
-30.34%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ¥4.20
$0.98 ¥6.57
-35.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ¥5.09
$0.67 ¥4.45
13.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.90
$0.54 ¥3.61
-20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 ¥19.56
$4.10 ¥27.40
-28.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.10 ¥40.82
$13.30 ¥89.0
-54.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥5.11
$0.78 ¥5.22
-2.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ¥9.86
$1.65 ¥11.02
-10.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.09
$0.63 ¥4.21
-50.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.48 ¥137
$17.61 ¥118
16.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 ¥10.76
$1.91 ¥12.76
-15.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.57
$0.38 ¥2.54
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.15 ¥61.2
$7.28 ¥48.65
25.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ¥8.66
$1.31 ¥8.76
-1.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥128.4K
$19.3K ¥129.2K
-0.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K ¥111.2K
$18.3K ¥122.5K
-9.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.70 ¥245
$47.44 ¥317
-22.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.39 ¥36.01
$10.05 ¥67.2
-46.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.07 ¥47.24
$14.50 ¥97.0
-51.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.28 ¥276
$51.5 ¥344
-19.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.25 ¥109
$19.69 ¥132
-17.47%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99 ¥40.07
$7.32 ¥48.94
-18.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,788
$568 ¥3,801
-26.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.1K ¥147.9K
$36.2K ¥242.1K
-38.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.41 ¥290
$59.6 ¥398
-27.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.77 ¥226
$41.39 ¥277
-18.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.1 ¥442
$86.2 ¥576
-23.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ¥592
$109 ¥728
-18.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$294 ¥1,969
$626 ¥4,182
-52.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$181 ¥1,209
$393 ¥2,628
-53.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$586 ¥3,920
$1,206 ¥8,061
-51.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 ¥2,334
$672 ¥4,490
-48.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,507 ¥23.4K
$8,023 ¥53.6K
-56.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,194 ¥14.7K
$3,742 ¥25.0K
-41.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bengbu
Hangzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$668 ¥4,468
$1,557 ¥10.4K
-57.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.42
3.5
-2.29%

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

Last update for Bengbu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Hangzhou: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bengbu
$181
Hangzhou
$393 117% $212
Groceries & Markets
Bengbu
$168
Hangzhou
$234 39.4% $66
Clothing & Footwear
Bengbu
$104
Hangzhou
$133 27.7% $29
Eating Out
Bengbu
$85
Hangzhou
$98 15.2% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Bengbu
$53
Hangzhou
$66 24.2% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bengbu
$49
Hangzhou
$72 46.5% $23
Getting Around
Bengbu
$25
Hangzhou
$24 5.2% $1.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Bengbu and $626 in Hangzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hangzhou pays 133% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11.00 in Bengbu vs $26.00 in Hangzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $234 per month, with Bengbu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Bengbu
🇨🇳 Hangzhou
🕒 Local time
12:26 12:26 PM
12:26 12:26 PM
Same time as Bengbu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,296,408
10,360,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
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From you
  • Bengbu
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bengbu vs Hangzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hangzhou cheaper than Bengbu?
Bengbu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bengbu or Hangzhou?
On paper, salaries run 133% lower in Hangzhou. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bengbu and Hangzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $294 in Bengbu versus $626 in Hangzhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $417 in Bengbu versus $568 in Hangzhou. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Bengbu and in Hangzhou?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Hangzhou. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bengbu or in Hangzhou?
At $666 in Bengbu versus $1,020 in Hangzhou, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bengbu but tight or insufficient in Hangzhou. The gap between the two cities makes Bengbu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Bengbu or in Hangzhou?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bengbu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Hangzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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