Cost of Living Comparison Between Hangzhou and Changshu Cost of Living Comparison Between Hangzhou and Changshu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,015 in Hangzhou versus $713 in Changshu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,553 in Hangzhou versus $1,130 in Changshu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,091 in Hangzhou versus $1,548 in Changshu.

Living in Hangzhou is roughly 42% more expensive than in Changshu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hangzhou 26% lower, Changshu 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.80 ¥25.52

$2.71 ¥18.17

40.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.84 ¥173

$21.58 ¥145

19.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 ¥34.33

$4.75 ¥31.88

7.79%

Cappuccino

$3.43 ¥23.01

$3.09 ¥20.76

11.00%

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

$0.60 ¥4.01

$0.46 ¥3.09

30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ¥2.05

$0.27 ¥1.79

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ¥9.74

$0.96 ¥6.41

51.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 ¥14.74

$2.12 ¥14.23

3.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ¥13.13

$1.79 ¥11.99

9.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 ¥11.15

$1.53 ¥10.30

8.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.58

$0.94 ¥6.33

20.21%

Eggs

$2.16 ¥14.50

$1.60 ¥10.77

35.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.97 ¥127

$13.00 ¥87.2

45.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.68 ¥24.68

$3.28 ¥22.04

12.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 ¥69.0

$10.34 ¥69.4

-0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 ¥14.94

$1.80 ¥12.06

23.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥8.99

$1.21 ¥8.12

10.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ¥10.78

$1.49 ¥10.01

8.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 ¥10.02

$1.14 ¥7.63

30.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.27

$0.74 ¥4.94

25.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 ¥6.63

$0.88 ¥5.93

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.16

$0.59 ¥3.97

5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥3.94

$0.52 ¥3.46

13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 ¥26.80

$3.05 ¥20.46

30.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.31 ¥89.3

$10.68 ¥71.7

24.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥5.35

$0.80 ¥5.40

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ¥11.18

$1.67 ¥11.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 ¥3.86

$0.29 ¥1.96

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 ¥118

$16.38 ¥110

7.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 ¥12.68

$1.36 ¥9.11

38.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ¥2.59

$0.36 ¥2.39

8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 ¥45.54

$6.84 ¥45.89

-0.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥8.78

$1.13 ¥7.59

15.93%

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

$19.5K ¥131.0K

$19.8K ¥132.8K

-1.35%

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

$18.2K ¥122.0K

$17.1K ¥114.9K

6.18%

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

$50.1 ¥336

$44.75 ¥300

12.04%

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

$10.55 ¥70.8

$10.06 ¥67.5

4.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.89 ¥99.9

$11.55 ¥77.5

28.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 ¥346

$41.37 ¥278

24.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.87 ¥133

$14.13 ¥94.8

40.62%

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 ¥50.0

$5.75 ¥38.61

29.57%

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

$566 ¥3,796

$333 ¥2,236

69.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.6K ¥239.2K

$16.8K ¥112.9K

111.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ¥392

$43.17 ¥290

35.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.59 ¥279

$30.34 ¥204

37.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 ¥568

$72.7 ¥488

16.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ¥724

$72.7 ¥488

48.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$622 ¥4,171

$284 ¥1,905

118.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 ¥2,634

$195 ¥1,311

100.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ¥7,887

$594 ¥3,985

97.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 ¥4,369

$360 ¥2,414

81.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,757 ¥52.0K

$3,059 ¥20.5K

153.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,645 ¥24.5K

$2,052 ¥13.8K

77.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,477 ¥9,908

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

3.89

-10.03%

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

Last update for Hangzhou: September 1, 2026

Last update for Changshu: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $622 in Hangzhou and $284 in Changshu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Hangzhou vs $22.00 in Changshu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $199 per month, with Changshu 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 Changshu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changshu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,523 in Hangzhou and $1,069 in Changshu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $622 in Hangzhou versus $284 in Changshu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Changshu – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $26.00 in Hangzhou. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,015 per month in Hangzhou versus $713 in Changshu – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $713 in Changshu versus $1,015 in Hangzhou, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Changshu but tight or insufficient in Hangzhou. The gap between the two cities makes Changshu 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.

Safety-wise, Hangzhou and Changshu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Changshu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Hangzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.