Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Austria Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Austria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $711 in China versus $2,269 in Austria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in China versus $3,339 in Austria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,550 in China versus $4,409 in Austria.

Living in China costs about 69% less than in Austria on average.

China (47% below) and Austria (69% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Austria: monthly costs span $1,772 to $2,729, compared to $525$1,220 in China. City choice carries more weight in Austria.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Austria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75 ¥18.83
$17.50 €14.98
-84.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.03 ¥165
$80.7 €69.1
-70.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥33.95
$11.54 €9.88
-57.02%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥21.37
$4.56 €3.91
-31.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.26
$3.78 €3.23
-87.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.84
$2.95 €2.52
-90.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ¥6.73
$5.63 €4.82
-82.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ¥14.69
$5.32 €4.56
-59.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Austria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ¥12.53
$1.65 €1.41
10.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥11.54
$2.83 €2.43
-40.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.21
$2.73 €2.34
-66.67%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.66
$4.64 €3.98
-66.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.97 ¥88.9
$19.08 €16.34
-32.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.25 ¥22.23
$14.97 €12.82
-78.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.51 ¥72.0
$23.80 €20.37
-55.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.41
$2.86 €2.45
-36.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.90
$2.38 €2.04
-45.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.26
$3.08 €2.64
-51.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.87
$4.64 €3.97
-75.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.20
$2.16 €1.85
-64.81%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 ¥6.07
$2.09 €1.79
-57.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ¥3.97
$1.87 €1.60
-68.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.95
$0.91 €0.78
-36.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50 ¥23.95
$7.34 €6.28
-52.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.55 ¥79.1
$8.11 €6.94
42.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.31
$1.44 €1.23
-45.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.03
$2.01 €1.72
-19.90%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Austria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.01
$2.94 €2.52
-85.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.15 ¥145
$58.3 €49.90
-63.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.35
$5.76 €4.93
-76.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ¥2.44
$1.97 €1.69
-81.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ¥45.28
$35.22 €30.15
-81.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥7.74
$1.75 €1.50
-35.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ¥135.2K
$29.8K €25.5K
-33.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K ¥117.0K
$31.0K €26.5K
-44.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Austria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.9 ¥349
$376 €322
-86.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 ¥68.7
$20.72 €17.74
-51.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.33 ¥77.6
$39.96 €34.20
-71.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Austria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.13 ¥275
$46.17 €39.52
-13.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.97 ¥103
$25.91 €22.18
-42.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 ¥41.74
$14.12 €12.08
-56.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Austria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$418 ¥2,860
$380 €326
9.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.3K ¥118.2K
$14.9K €12.8K
15.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Austria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.40 ¥318
$101 €86.5
-54.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.92 ¥226
$44.92 €38.45
-26.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.1 ¥487
$105 €89.8
-32.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥499
$141 €121
-48.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Austria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$438 ¥3,003
$1,023 €876
-57.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 ¥1,775
$798 €683
-67.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$926 ¥6,341
$1,789 €1,531
-48.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 ¥3,754
$1,434 €1,228
-61.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,047 ¥34.6K
$7,187 €6,152
-29.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,666 ¥18.3K
$4,977 €4,260
-46.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Austria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,074 ¥7,357
$3,107 €2,660
-65.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
3.72
9.14%

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

Last update for China: April 26, 2026

Last update for Austria: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $286 in China, $916 in Austria. Capital cities: $886 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,259 in Vienna.

National salary averages: $834 in China, $2,986 in Austria. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 220% higher in Austria.

Dining out costs 271% more in Austria.

Public transport is 222% more expensive in Austria.

Salaries are 258% higher in Austria, giving Austria stronger purchasing power.

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 Austria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Austria and China?
At $2,251 per month in Austria and $873 in China, there's a 158% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
China is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Austria beats China across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Austria or China?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Austria, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Austria or China?
It depends on what you're after. China wins on affordability; Austria may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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