🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $670 in Chengdu versus $730 in Anapolis.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,074 in Chengdu versus $1,200 in Anapolis.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,478 in Chengdu versus $1,669 in Anapolis.
🙂Living in Chengdu costs roughly 8% less than in Anapolis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chengdu50% lower, Anapolis45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84¥19.42
$5.56R$27.69
-48.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.02¥165
$35.46R$177
-32.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78¥32.72
$5.29R$26.35
-9.64%
Cappuccino
$2.77¥19.01
$1.66R$8.29
66.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.95
$1.18R$5.86
-63.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.08
$0.88R$4.37
-65.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.13¥7.75
$1.84R$9.16
-38.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04¥13.97
$2.30R$11.46
-11.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82¥12.45
$0.99R$4.91
83.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45¥9.92
$1.68R$8.34
-13.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.32
$1.40R$6.98
-34.29%
Eggs
$1.94¥13.28
$1.91R$9.53
1.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50¥92.5
$7.93R$39.50
70.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.52¥24.11
$3.44R$17.14
2.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.22¥76.8
$6.76R$33.67
65.98%
Apples(1kg)
$1.92¥13.16
$1.88R$9.35
2.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23¥8.39
$1.01R$5.02
21.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥10.24
$1.05R$5.23
41.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08¥7.40
$1.01R$5.02
6.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69¥4.75
$1.23R$6.13
-43.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71¥4.84
$0.91R$4.54
-21.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56¥3.84
$0.64R$3.21
-12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60¥4.14
$0.67R$3.34
-10.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39¥23.21
$1.79R$8.90
89.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58¥38.20
$5.86R$29.20
-4.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00¥6.88
$1.06R$5.29
-5.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79¥12.26
$2.35R$11.70
-23.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43¥2.96
$0.86R$4.28
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.53¥189
$38.02R$189
-27.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28¥8.79
$0.94R$4.69
36.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26¥1.77
$0.76R$3.76
-65.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.26¥29.16
$5.71R$28.44
-25.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18¥8.07
$1.08R$5.40
9.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K¥127.9K
$25.2KR$125.6K
-25.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.3K¥111.9K
$29.1KR$144.7K
-43.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.81¥300
$53.3R$266
-17.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.49¥78.7
$9.11R$45.38
26.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.73¥80.3
$17.98R$89.5
-34.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.26¥166
$22.14R$110
9.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.27¥77.2
$21.89R$109
-48.52%
Cinema Ticket
$5.73¥39.23
$5.42R$27.00
5.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340¥2,326
$483R$2,407
-29.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2K¥83.4K
$14.9KR$74.4K
-18.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.27¥255
$53.0R$264
-29.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.16¥268
$35.90R$179
9.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.7¥450
$67.7R$337
-2.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.4¥345
$35.61R$177
41.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$308¥2,112
$315R$1,567
-2.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181¥1,242
$217R$1,080
-16.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$622¥4,258
$584R$2,907
6.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330¥2,263
$430R$2,142
-23.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,887¥26.6K
$1,273R$6,339
205.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,045¥14.0K
$971R$4,837
110.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chengdu
Anapolis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,210¥8,287
$534R$2,660
126.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.21
10.68
-60.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chengdu: April 25, 2026
Last update for Anapolis: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $308 in Chengdu and $315 in Anapolis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chengdu pays 127% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Chengdu vs $35.00 in Anapolis. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $164, with Anapolis cheaper for home cooking.
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
Chengdu vs Anapolis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chengdu or Anapolis?
Chengdu wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Anapolis. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chengdu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chengdu or Anapolis?
Chengdu pays 127% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chengdu vs Anapolis?
Rent for a central apartment: $308 in Chengdu versus $315 in Anapolis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Chengdu compared to Anapolis?
All in, you'll spend $670 per month in Chengdu versus $730 in Anapolis – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Chengdu vs Anapolis?
A monthly transit pass in Chengdu runs roughly 38% less than in Anapolis. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Chengdu or Anapolis?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chengdu or Anapolis?
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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Chengdu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Anapolis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.