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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Chengdu costs roughly 7% less than in Changchun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.90 ¥19.43

$2.81 ¥18.82

3.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.18 ¥135

$21.92 ¥147

-7.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.18 ¥34.75

$5.93 ¥39.75

-12.65%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ¥19.68

$2.37 ¥15.91

24.05%

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

$0.48 ¥3.19

$0.58 ¥3.86

-17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.88

$0.31 ¥2.09

-9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.77

$0.87 ¥5.82

67.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ¥16.73

$1.84 ¥12.35

35.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ¥11.80

$1.95 ¥13.04

-9.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 ¥10.98

$1.27 ¥8.51

29.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.31

$1.35 ¥9.08

-30.37%

Eggs

$1.54 ¥10.29

$1.88 ¥12.61

-18.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.19 ¥95.1

$34.14 ¥229

-58.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 ¥23.51

$4.95 ¥33.19

-29.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.04 ¥74.0

$8.96 ¥60.1

23.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.20

$1.70 ¥11.38

7.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ¥8.46

$1.10 ¥7.36

14.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.10

$1.75 ¥11.72

-39.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 ¥8.38

$1.37 ¥9.20

-8.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 ¥4.63

$0.70 ¥4.72

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.83

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ¥4.91

$0.57 ¥3.79

28.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥3.92

$1.15 ¥7.73

-48.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.63 ¥24.29

$3.68 ¥24.63

-1.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.47 ¥36.63

$12.05 ¥80.7

-54.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.28

$0.86 ¥5.74

-8.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 ¥10.26

$1.14 ¥7.66

34.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.95 ¥167

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.32 ¥8.81

$1.18 ¥7.89

11.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ¥1.94

$0.29 ¥1.92

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 ¥29.33

$2.99 ¥20.03

46.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥8.21

$1.26 ¥8.48

-2.38%

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

$19.4K ¥129.8K

$19.2K ¥128.8K

0.76%

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

$17.4K ¥116.7K

$18.1K ¥121.0K

-3.53%

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

$41.04 ¥275

$45.06 ¥302

-8.92%

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

$9.46 ¥63.4

$4.33 ¥29.01

118.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.83 ¥86.0

$14.92 ¥100

-14.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.45 ¥184

$37.18 ¥249

-26.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.02 ¥73.9

$4.11 ¥27.54

168.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 ¥40.35

$9.53 ¥63.9

-36.83%

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

$410 ¥2,748

$295 ¥1,977

38.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ¥99.0K

$8,938 ¥59.9K

65.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.78 ¥193

$51.4 ¥344

-44.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.21 ¥196

$44.54 ¥298

-34.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.8 ¥407

$60.1 ¥403

1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 ¥353

$69.9 ¥468

-24.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ¥3,260

$219 ¥1,471

121.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 ¥1,714

$249 ¥1,670

2.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 ¥5,692

$578 ¥3,876

46.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 ¥3,655

$314 ¥2,106

73.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,813 ¥25.6K

$1,635 ¥11.0K

133.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,909 ¥12.8K

$976 ¥6,540

95.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,284 ¥8,602

$965 ¥6,468

33.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.38

4.37

-22.65%

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

Last update for Chengdu: September 1, 2026

Last update for Changchun: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Chengdu and $219 in Changchun. 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: $20.00 in Chengdu vs $22.00 in Changchun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $277 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

Chengdu vs Changchun: 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.

Average pay runs 33% higher in Chengdu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

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

Childcare runs $410 in Chengdu versus $295 in Changchun. 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.