Cost of Living Comparison Between Changchun and Chengdu Cost of Living Comparison Between Changchun and Chengdu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $817 in Changchun versus $763 in Chengdu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,230 in Changchun versus $1,225 in Chengdu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,644 in Changchun versus $1,688 in Chengdu.

Living in Changchun is roughly 7% more expensive than in Chengdu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changchun 41% lower, Chengdu 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 ¥18.82

$2.90 ¥19.43

-3.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.92 ¥147

$20.18 ¥135

8.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.93 ¥39.75

$5.18 ¥34.75

14.48%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ¥15.91

$2.94 ¥19.68

-19.39%

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

$0.58 ¥3.86

$0.48 ¥3.19

20.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ¥2.09

$0.28 ¥1.88

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ¥5.82

$1.46 ¥9.77

-40.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥12.35

$2.50 ¥16.73

-26.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥13.04

$1.76 ¥11.80

10.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ¥8.51

$1.64 ¥10.98

-22.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ¥9.08

$0.94 ¥6.31

43.62%

Eggs

$1.88 ¥12.61

$1.54 ¥10.29

22.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$34.14 ¥229

$14.19 ¥95.1

140.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 ¥33.19

$3.51 ¥23.51

41.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.96 ¥60.1

$11.04 ¥74.0

-18.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 ¥11.38

$1.82 ¥12.20

-6.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.36

$1.26 ¥8.46

-12.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.72

$1.06 ¥7.10

65.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 ¥9.20

$1.25 ¥8.38

9.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.72

$0.69 ¥4.63

1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.83

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ¥3.79

$0.73 ¥4.91

-21.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 ¥7.73

$0.59 ¥3.92

94.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.68 ¥24.63

$3.63 ¥24.29

1.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.05 ¥80.7

$5.47 ¥36.63

120.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥5.74

$0.79 ¥5.28

8.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ¥7.66

$1.53 ¥10.26

-25.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.95 ¥167

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ¥7.89

$1.32 ¥8.81

-10.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ¥1.92

$0.29 ¥1.94

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ¥20.03

$4.38 ¥29.33

-31.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥8.48

$1.23 ¥8.21

2.44%

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

$19.2K ¥128.8K

$19.4K ¥129.8K

-0.76%

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

$18.1K ¥121.0K

$17.4K ¥116.7K

3.66%

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

$45.06 ¥302

$41.04 ¥275

9.80%

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

$4.33 ¥29.01

$9.46 ¥63.4

-54.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.92 ¥100

$12.83 ¥86.0

16.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.18 ¥249

$27.45 ¥184

35.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.11 ¥27.54

$11.02 ¥73.9

-62.70%

Cinema Ticket

$9.53 ¥63.9

$6.02 ¥40.35

58.31%

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

$295 ¥1,977

$410 ¥2,748

-28.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,938 ¥59.9K

$14.8K ¥99.0K

-39.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 ¥344

$28.78 ¥193

78.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.54 ¥298

$29.21 ¥196

52.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 ¥403

$60.8 ¥407

-1.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.9 ¥468

$52.7 ¥353

32.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 ¥1,471

$486 ¥3,260

-54.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ¥1,670

$256 ¥1,714

-2.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 ¥3,876

$849 ¥5,692

-31.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ¥2,106

$545 ¥3,655

-42.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,635 ¥11.0K

$3,813 ¥25.6K

-57.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$976 ¥6,540

$1,909 ¥12.8K

-48.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$965 ¥6,468

$1,284 ¥8,602

-24.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

3.38

29.29%

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

Last update for Changchun: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chengdu: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Changchun and $486 in Chengdu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chengdu pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Changchun vs $20.00 in Chengdu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $196 per month, with Chengdu cheaper across the board.

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

Changchun vs Chengdu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chengdu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Chengdu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $219 in Changchun versus $486 in Chengdu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $295 in Changchun versus $410 in Chengdu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Chengdu – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $22.00 in Changchun. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Chengdu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Chengdu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Changchun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.