Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Thailand Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Thailand

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 20.8% cheaper than Thailand without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 17.2% cheaper than Thailand without rent, and 16.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Thailand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$3.04 ฿98.2
-6.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$27.81 ฿900
-13.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$6.87 ฿222
-27.80%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$2.17 ฿70.1
44.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$0.68 ฿21.86
-35.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.32 ฿10.29
-9.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$2.14 ฿69.2
-55.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$3.63 ฿117
-41.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Thailand
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.86 ฿60.3
-0.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$1.41 ฿45.69
19.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$1.34 ฿43.38
-29.10%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$2.06 ฿66.7
-24.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$17.13 ฿554
-22.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$2.89 ฿93.5
13.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$10.65 ฿345
1.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$2.95 ฿95.5
-40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.39 ฿44.89
-9.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$2.05 ฿66.3
-26.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$1.66 ฿53.7
-28.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$1.55 ฿50
-51.61%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$1.29 ฿41.86
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$1.14 ฿36.82
-46.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.49 ฿15.88
18.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$4.43 ฿143
-22.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$18.85 ฿610
-40.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$1.82 ฿58.8
-53.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$2.93 ฿94.8
-42.66%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Thailand
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.81 ฿26.08
-50.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$32.72 ฿1,059
-36.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$1.21 ฿39.11
12.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$1.18 ฿38.2
-70.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$6.26 ฿203
8.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.25 ฿40.29
-10.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$29.6K ฿959.2K
-35.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$28.5K ฿922.8K
-41.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Thailand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$80.8 ฿2,616
-36.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$13.48 ฿436
-27.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$17.97 ฿581
-36.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Thailand
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$49.74 ฿1,610
-20.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$10.41 ฿337
43.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$7.27 ฿235
-14.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Thailand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$415 ฿13.4K
0.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$12.7K ฿410.2K
39.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Thailand
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$48.61 ฿1,573
-6.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$33.02 ฿1,069
1.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$94.8 ฿3,068
-24.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$76.2 ฿2,465
-4.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Thailand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$498 ฿16.1K
-10.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$272 ฿8,813
-6.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$1,204 ฿38.9K
-23.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$666 ฿21.6K
-18.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$3,920 ฿126.8K
56.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$2,182 ฿70.6K
31.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Thailand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$646 ฿20.9K
45.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
5.68
-28.52%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Thailand: October 28, 2025

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