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

😐 Solo nomad: China is 65.4% more expensive than India without rent, and 80.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: China is 71.8% more expensive than India without rent, and 80.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$2.49 ₹213
14.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$14.06 ₹1,202
70.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$4.1 ₹351
20.98%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$1.82 ₹156
71.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$0.44 ₹37.72
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.17 ₹14.36
70.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$1.94 ₹166
-51.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$3.53 ₹302
-39.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$0.73 ₹62.1
153.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$0.48 ₹41.19
250.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$0.72 ₹61.4
31.94%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$0.94 ₹80.1
64.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$5.23 ₹448
153.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$3.14 ₹269
4.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$2.2 ₹188
-19.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$0.72 ₹61.2
75.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$1.09 ₹93.2
37.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$0.57 ₹49.11
108.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$0.42 ₹36.21
78.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$0.45 ₹38.73
91.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$0.55 ₹46.97
10.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.33 ₹27.96
75.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$4.08 ₹349
-15.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$7.99 ₹683
41.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$1.92 ₹164
-56.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$2.89 ₹248
-41.87%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.92 ₹506
-
🚌 Getting Around
China
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.34 ₹28.83
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$10.01 ₹856
108.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$0.97 ₹83
40.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.28 ₹23.62
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$1.77 ₹151
284.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.24 ₹106
-9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$14K ₹1.2M
36.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$22.2K ₹1.9M
-24.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$40.79 ₹3,489
26.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$3.79 ₹324
157.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$8.13 ₹695
39.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$16 ₹1,368
147.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$7.59 ₹649
96.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$3.45 ₹295
80.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$69.7 ₹5,958
498.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$1,847 ₹158K
856.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$25.29 ₹2,163
80.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$26.99 ₹2,309
24.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$44.67 ₹3,821
60.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$33.23 ₹2,842
119.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$179 ₹15.3K
148.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$114 ₹9,770
123.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$414 ₹35.4K
120.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$260 ₹22.2K
108.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$1,499 ₹128.2K
309.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$830 ₹71K
244.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$500 ₹42.8K
88.16%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for India: October 29, 2025

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