Cost of Living Comparison Between Hangzhou and Changchun Cost of Living Comparison Between Hangzhou and Changchun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $894 in Hangzhou versus $748 in Changchun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Hangzhou versus $1,109 in Changchun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,037 in Hangzhou versus $1,469 in Changchun.

Living in Hangzhou is roughly 20% more expensive than in Changchun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hangzhou 33% lower, Changchun 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 ¥23.44

$2.77 ¥18.71

25.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.12 ¥177

$20.26 ¥137

28.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 ¥32.61

$4.92 ¥33.27

-1.83%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.07

$2.57 ¥17.36

38.52%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ¥3.45

$0.48 ¥3.27

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ¥7.33

$0.83 ¥5.58

30.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ¥11.47

$2.04 ¥13.77

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ¥13.66

$1.89 ¥12.77

6.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 ¥12.91

$1.25 ¥8.42

52.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.42

$1.28 ¥8.67

-25.78%

Eggs

$1.71 ¥11.58

$1.10 ¥7.45

55.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 ¥117

$12.67 ¥85.6

36.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.60 ¥17.56

$3.42 ¥23.08

-23.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ¥66.7

$8.41 ¥56.8

17.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ¥13.32

$1.47 ¥9.90

34.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ¥11.61

$1.03 ¥6.95

66.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ¥10.72

$0.86 ¥5.81

84.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ¥8.12

$1.30 ¥8.81

-7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.92

$0.73 ¥4.93

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 ¥6.69

$0.66 ¥4.46

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ¥4.50

$0.44 ¥2.94

52.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ¥3.29

$0.56 ¥3.76

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ¥28.12

$3.21 ¥21.68

29.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.30 ¥89.9

$11.69 ¥79.0

13.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥4.98

$0.67 ¥4.50

10.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥11.37

$0.94 ¥6.36

78.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ¥3.46

$0.27 ¥1.81

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.52 ¥105

$16.96 ¥115

-8.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 ¥12.44

$1.08 ¥7.30

70.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ¥2.66

$0.26 ¥1.76

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 ¥41.69

$3.43 ¥23.15

79.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥7.84

$1.12 ¥7.55

3.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.5K ¥131.8K

$18.2K ¥122.8K

7.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.8K ¥113.7K

$18.7K ¥126.0K

-9.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$43.61 ¥295

$42.61 ¥288

2.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.46 ¥77.5

$14.76 ¥99.7

-22.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.09 ¥122

$14.14 ¥95.6

27.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.5 ¥395

$42.40 ¥287

38.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.25 ¥110

$3.75 ¥25.35

333.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 ¥41.79

$5.00 ¥33.81

23.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$453 ¥3,059

$284 ¥1,919

59.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.7K ¥194.3K

$8,474 ¥57.3K

239.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 ¥387

$27.58 ¥186

107.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 ¥239

$30.90 ¥209

14.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 ¥476

$74.1 ¥501

-4.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.6 ¥625

$77.5 ¥524

19.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 ¥3,453

$276 ¥1,864

85.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 ¥2,022

$233 ¥1,577

28.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,156 ¥7,814

$596 ¥4,024

94.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 ¥4,552

$358 ¥2,420

88.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,615 ¥51.5K

$1,745 ¥11.8K

336.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,739 ¥25.3K

$993 ¥6,709

276.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,418 ¥9,579

$942 ¥6,366

50.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.83

5.27

-27.32%

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

Last update for Hangzhou: July 13, 2026

Last update for Changchun: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $511 in Hangzhou and $276 in Changchun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hangzhou pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Hangzhou vs $20.00 in Changchun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $185 per month, with Changchun cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Hangzhou vs Changchun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changchun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Hangzhou, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $511 in Hangzhou versus $276 in Changchun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Changchun runs roughly 9% less than in Hangzhou. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $453 in Hangzhou versus $284 in Changchun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $748 in Changchun versus $894 in Hangzhou, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Changchun but tight or insufficient in Hangzhou. The gap between the two cities makes Changchun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Changchun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Hangzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.