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

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 58.3% cheaper than United States without rent, and 71.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 57.3% cheaper than United States without rent, and 67.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$20.33 $20.33
-85.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$74.4 $74.4
-67.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$11.49 $11.49
-56.83%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$5.09 $5.09
-38.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$2.54 $2.54
-82.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$2.11 $2.11
-86.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$6.09 $6.09
-84.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$7.1 $7.1
-69.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.08 $1.08
71.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$3.7 $3.7
-54.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$4.65 $4.65
-79.57%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$4.21 $4.21
-63.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$12.75 $12.75
3.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$12.24 $12.24
-73.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$16.08 $16.08
-32.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$5.41 $5.41
-67.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.73 $1.73
-27.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$4.37 $4.37
-65.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$4.94 $4.94
-75.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$2.88 $2.88
-73.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$3.07 $3.07
-71.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$2.25 $2.25
-72.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$2.21 $2.21
-73.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$10.09 $10.09
-65.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$14.73 $14.73
-23.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$1.91 $1.91
-56.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$3.54 $3.54
-52.54%
🚌 Getting Around
China
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$2.56 $2.56
-84.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$63.9 $63.9
-67.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$3.81 $3.81
-64.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$1.77 $1.77
-80.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$30.4 $30.4
-77.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$0.94 $0.94
19.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$30K $30K
-35.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$25.8K $25.8K
-35.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$209 $209
-75.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$57.9 $57.9
-83.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$71.1 $71.1
-84.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$45.88 $45.88
-13.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$22.25 $22.25
-33.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$14.14 $14.14
-55.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$1,373 $1,373
-69.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$22.4K $22.4K
-20.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$51.5 $51.5
-11.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$41.96 $41.96
-20.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$88.3 $88.3
-18.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$112 $112
-34.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$1,731 $1,731
-74.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$1,446 $1,446
-82.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$2,846 $2,846
-67.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$2,366 $2,366
-77.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$3,245 $3,245
89.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$2,667 $2,667
7.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$4,312 $4,312
-78.16%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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