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Cost of Living Comparison Between China and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between China and United States

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 56.9% cheaper than United States without rent, and 71.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 58.6% cheaper than United States without rent, and 67.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77 ¥19.31
$20.22 $20.22
-86.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.14 ¥169
$75.7 $75.7
-68.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.75 ¥33.15
$11.47 $11.47
-58.59%
Cappuccino
$3.02 ¥21.06
$5.13 $5.13
-41.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.06
$2.61 $2.61
-83.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.87
$2.14 $2.14
-87.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.96 ¥6.67
$6.17 $6.17
-84.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ¥14.21
$7.07 $7.07
-71.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥12.21
$1.08 $1.08
62.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 ¥11.79
$3.74 $3.74
-54.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 ¥6.85
$4.57 $4.57
-78.56%
Eggs
$1.60 ¥11.19
$4.20 $4.20
-61.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 ¥93.1
$13.02 $13.02
2.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.27 ¥22.82
$12.18 $12.18
-73.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.63 ¥74.2
$16.14 $16.14
-34.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.74 ¥12.16
$5.31 $5.31
-67.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.76
$1.72 $1.72
-26.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.13
$4.59 $4.59
-68.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.28
$4.96 $4.96
-76.01%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥5.08
$3.00 $3.00
-75.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥5.99
$3.04 $3.04
-71.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ¥4.30
$2.18 $2.18
-71.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.71
$2.19 $2.19
-75.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ¥24.03
$10.16 $10.16
-66.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.63 ¥81.2
$15.16 $15.16
-23.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥5.88
$1.99 $1.99
-57.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ¥11.30
$3.71 $3.71
-56.33%
🚌 Getting Around
China
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.07
$2.48 $2.48
-82.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.71 ¥145
$63.9 $63.9
-67.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ¥9.91
$3.69 $3.69
-61.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.27
$1.76 $1.76
-81.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.51 ¥45.42
$30.06 $30.06
-78.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ¥8.19
$0.96 $0.96
21.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥133.9K
$30.2K $30.2K
-36.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6K ¥116.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
-36.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥359
$207 $207
-75.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 ¥67.2
$57.0 $57.0
-83.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.22 ¥78.3
$71.5 $71.5
-84.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.09 ¥273
$45.91 $45.91
-14.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.70 ¥103
$22.25 $22.25
-33.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.14 ¥42.89
$14.13 $14.13
-56.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$416 ¥2,905
$1,385 $1,385
-69.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K ¥125.0K
$22.2K $22.2K
-19.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.24 ¥316
$52.1 $52.1
-13.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.59 ¥228
$42.53 $42.53
-23.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.0 ¥509
$89.9 $89.9
-18.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8 ¥508
$114 $114
-36.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ¥3,018
$1,743 $1,743
-75.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 ¥1,767
$1,422 $1,422
-82.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 ¥6,441
$2,821 $2,821
-67.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 ¥3,811
$2,370 $2,370
-76.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,324 ¥37.2K
$3,338 $3,338
59.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,784 ¥19.4K
$2,615 $2,615
6.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 ¥7,240
$4,230 $4,230
-75.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
6.51
-37.63%

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

Last update for China: January 11, 2026

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

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