Cost of Living Comparison Between China and India Cost of Living Comparison Between China and India

😐 Solo nomad: China is 68.4% more expensive than India without rent, and 78.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: China is 71.3% more expensive than India without rent, and 77% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82 ¥19.51
$2.60 ₹240
8.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.62 ¥163
$13.91 ₹1,282
69.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 ¥34.35
$4.17 ₹385
19.18%
Cappuccino
$3.14 ¥21.66
$1.84 ₹169
70.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.07
$0.44 ₹40.29
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.84
$0.17 ₹15.44
58.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ¥6.40
$1.96 ₹180
-52.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 ¥14.37
$3.50 ₹323
-40.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 ¥12.70
$0.73 ₹67.7
152.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥11.17
$0.48 ₹44.27
237.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.62
$0.72 ₹66.1
33.33%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.76
$0.94 ₹86.9
65.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.18 ¥91.1
$5.23 ₹482
152.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.21 ¥22.15
$3.12 ₹287
2.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.89 ¥75.3
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.20
$2.19 ₹202
-19.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.64
$0.75 ₹68.8
66.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.53
$1.10 ₹101
38.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.95
$0.57 ₹52.7
101.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.28
$0.42 ₹38.88
80.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 ¥6.14
$0.45 ₹41.52
97.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.24
$0.55 ₹50.4
10.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.72
$0.33 ₹30.42
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ¥23.33
$4.13 ₹381
-18.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.67 ¥80.6
$7.66 ₹706
52.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.39
$1.83 ₹168
-57.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ¥11.54
$2.90 ₹267
-42.41%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.74 ₹529
-
🚌 Getting Around
China
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.37 ₹33.67
16.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.93 ¥145
$10.00 ₹922
109.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ¥9.74
$0.92 ₹84.6
53.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.44
$0.28 ₹25.78
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.48 ¥44.78
$1.77 ₹163
266.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥8.04
$1.17 ₹108
-0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ¥133.1K
$13.8K ₹1.3M
39.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥117.4K
$22.8K ₹2.1M
-25.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.3 ¥354
$41.02 ₹3,782
24.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.84 ¥68.0
$3.88 ₹357
153.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.49 ¥79.4
$7.71 ₹711
49.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.28 ¥278
$16.54 ₹1,525
143.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 ¥102
$7.91 ₹729
86.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41 ¥44.30
$3.41 ₹314
87.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$403 ¥2,787
$70.7 ₹6,522
470.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K ¥123.5K
$1,845 ₹170.1K
868.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.91 ¥317
$24.96 ₹2,301
83.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.39 ¥224
$27.09 ₹2,498
19.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.2 ¥492
$46.21 ₹4,261
54.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ¥511
$33.03 ₹3,045
123.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$436 ¥3,013
$175 ₹16.2K
148.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$254 ¥1,752
$113 ₹10.4K
123.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 ¥6,219
$403 ₹37.2K
123.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 ¥3,787
$258 ₹23.8K
112.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,140 ¥35.5K
$1,308 ₹120.6K
292.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,676 ¥18.5K
$659 ₹60.7K
306.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,024 ¥7,079
$457 ₹42.1K
124.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
9.02
-54.99%

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

Last update for China: March 3, 2026

Last update for India: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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