Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $784 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $23,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: China is 56.8% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 71% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 58.4% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 68.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90 ¥19.39
$20.22 $20.22
-85.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.02 ¥147
$85.0 $85.0
-74.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.20 ¥34.74
$12.35 $12.35
-57.89%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ¥20.31
$5.47 $5.47
-44.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.45
$3.82 $3.82
-86.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.85
$2.50 $2.50
-88.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ¥6.75
$8.06 $8.06
-87.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ¥14.64
$8.99 $8.99
-75.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥11.71
$1.13 $1.13
54.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥10.96
$3.78 $3.78
-56.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.12
$3.25 $3.25
-71.69%
Eggs
$1.59 ¥10.66
$4.14 $4.14
-61.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.99 ¥86.8
$13.08 $13.08
-0.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 ¥22.38
$14.31 $14.31
-76.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.18 ¥74.7
$15.96 $15.96
-29.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.02
$4.38 $4.38
-58.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 ¥8.78
$1.45 $1.45
-9.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 ¥9.80
$4.54 $4.54
-67.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 ¥8.79
$4.19 $4.19
-68.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.07
$2.63 $2.63
-71.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.15
$2.36 $2.36
-61.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥3.94
$1.76 $1.76
-66.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.63
$2.16 $2.16
-75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 ¥25.34
$9.81 $9.81
-61.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.14 ¥81.1
$14.72 $14.72
-17.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥5.48
$2.78 $2.78
-70.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥10.92
$3.48 $3.48
-53.16%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$1.49 $1.49
-80.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.33 ¥149
$40.51 $40.51
-44.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ¥10.24
$2.67 $2.67
-42.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.31
$1.58 $1.58
-77.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.00 ¥46.79
$35.29 $35.29
-80.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ¥8.77
$0.99 $0.99
32.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ¥127.1K
$35.8K $35.8K
-46.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥113.7K
$27.2K $27.2K
-37.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.1 ¥362
$219 $219
-75.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 ¥56.3
$58.0 $58.0
-85.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.72 ¥71.6
$68.4 $68.4
-84.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.72 ¥272
$57.9 $57.9
-29.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.58 ¥97.4
$14.82 $14.82
-1.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 ¥45.15
$14.13 $14.13
-52.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 ¥3,089
$1,509 $1,509
-69.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K ¥131.0K
$21.5K $21.5K
-8.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57 ¥305
$51.7 $51.7
-11.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.05 ¥241
$44.05 $44.05
-18.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 ¥504
$85.1 $85.1
-11.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 ¥528
$105 $105
-24.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$386 ¥2,577
$1,932 $1,932
-80.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 ¥1,601
$1,272 $1,272
-81.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$843 ¥5,637
$3,670 $3,670
-77.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ¥3,083
$2,525 $2,525
-81.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,590 ¥30.7K
$7,617 $7,617
-39.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,279 ¥15.2K
$3,199 $3,199
-28.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 ¥7,082
$5,105 $5,105
-79.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
6.79
-49.04%

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

Last update for China: October 4, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
China
$240
Austin, TX
$1.3K 431% $1K
Groceries & Markets
China
$207
Austin, TX
$403 94.4% $196
Clothing & Footwear
China
$106
Austin, TX
$129 21.2% $23
Eating Out
China
$88
Austin, TX
$348 296% $260
Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$73
Austin, TX
$346 372% $272
Sport & Entertainment
China
$54
Austin, TX
$86 58.9% $32
Getting Around
China
$27
Austin, TX
$57 113% $30
Good to know
🇨🇳 China
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
15:19 3:19 PM
02:19 2:19 AM
13 h behind China
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,442,965,000
974,447
💱 Currency
Chinese Yuan CNY ¥
United States Dollar USD $
📈 Exchange rate
1 CNY = 0.15 USD
1 CNY = 0.133 EUR
1 USD = 0.892 EUR
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 6.68 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.5 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to CNY in detail →
On the map
Between locations
  • China Austin, TX 11,450 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • China
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇮🇳 India
$380
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,199
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$481
/mo nomad
Show more

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