Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Sri Lanka Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Sri Lanka

😐 Solo nomad: China is 3% more expensive than Sri Lanka without rent, and 24.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: China is 4.6% more expensive than Sri Lanka without rent, and 24.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$3.3 LKR 987
-13.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$23.6 LKR 7,051
1.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$6.85 LKR 2,048
-27.59%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$2.68 LKR 801
16.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$0.68 LKR 203
-35.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.39 LKR 118
-25.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$2.31 LKR 690
-58.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$3.37 LKR 1,008
-36.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.67 LKR 497
10.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$0.58 LKR 173
189.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$0.85 LKR 253
11.76%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$2.14 LKR 641
-27.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$13.07 LKR 3,905
1.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$4.93 LKR 1,473
-33.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$7.96 LKR 2,377
36.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$6.93 LKR 2,070
-74.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$0.98 LKR 292
28.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$5.58 LKR 1,667
-73.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$1.37 LKR 409
-13.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$1.13 LKR 339
-33.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$1.17 LKR 348
-26.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$1.14 LKR 339
-46.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.55 LKR 163
5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$9.97 LKR 2,978
-65.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$13.23 LKR 3,952
-14.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$2.15 LKR 643
-60.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$2.83 LKR 847
-40.64%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.22 LKR 65.5
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$4.89 LKR 1,462
325.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$0.41 LKR 123
231.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.36 LKR 107
-2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$0.48 LKR 145
1316.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.31 LKR 391
-14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$26.8K LKR 8M
-28.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$37.6K LKR 11.2M
-55.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$46.59 LKR 13.9K
10.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$4.42 LKR 1,322
121.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$15.43 LKR 4,611
-26.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$13.02 LKR 3,889
203.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$5.96 LKR 1,781
149.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$3.29 LKR 983
89.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$36.95 LKR 11K
1027.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$445 LKR 132.9K
3871.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$27.77 LKR 8,297
64.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$19.1 LKR 5,706
75.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$64.2 LKR 19.2K
11.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$37.47 LKR 11.2K
94.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$269 LKR 80.4K
65.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$138 LKR 41.3K
84.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$613 LKR 183.2K
49.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$265 LKR 79.1K
105.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$1,767 LKR 527.9K
247.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$1,047 LKR 312.7K
173.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Sri Lanka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$216 LKR 64.5K
336.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
16.21
-74.95%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Sri Lanka: October 29, 2025

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