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: $894 in Hangzhou versus $717 in Changshu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Hangzhou versus $1,146 in Changshu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,037 in Hangzhou versus $1,575 in Changshu.

Living in Hangzhou is roughly 25% more expensive than in Changshu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hangzhou 33% lower, Changshu 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 ¥23.44

$2.87 ¥19.39

20.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.12 ¥177

$21.81 ¥147

19.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 ¥32.61

$4.99 ¥33.75

-3.21%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.07

$3.04 ¥20.56

17.11%

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

$0.51 ¥3.45

$0.46 ¥3.13

10.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.97

$0.27 ¥1.82

7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ¥7.33

$0.92 ¥6.25

17.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ¥11.47

$2.04 ¥13.79

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 ¥13.66

$1.84 ¥12.45

9.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 ¥12.91

$1.54 ¥10.43

24.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.42

$0.98 ¥6.59

-3.06%

Eggs

$1.71 ¥11.58

$1.56 ¥10.52

9.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 ¥117

$12.69 ¥85.7

36.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.60 ¥17.56

$3.28 ¥22.15

-20.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ¥66.7

$10.36 ¥70.0

-4.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ¥13.32

$1.86 ¥12.57

5.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ¥11.61

$1.20 ¥8.10

43.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 ¥10.72

$1.48 ¥9.99

7.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 ¥8.12

$1.10 ¥7.43

9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.92

$0.73 ¥4.94

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 ¥6.69

$0.89 ¥6.01

11.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ¥4.50

$0.56 ¥3.81

19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ¥3.29

$0.51 ¥3.42

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ¥28.12

$3.19 ¥21.53

30.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.30 ¥89.9

$10.61 ¥71.7

25.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥4.98

$0.75 ¥5.04

-1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥11.37

$1.63 ¥11.03

3.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 ¥3.46

$0.29 ¥1.96

75.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.52 ¥105

$16.93 ¥114

-8.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 ¥12.44

$1.42 ¥9.56

29.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ¥2.66

$0.35 ¥2.39

11.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 ¥41.69

$6.79 ¥45.86

-9.13%

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

$19.1K ¥129.1K

2.02%

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

$16.8K ¥113.7K

$16.9K ¥114.4K

-0.64%

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

$43.61 ¥295

$45.66 ¥309

-4.49%

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

$11.46 ¥77.5

$9.59 ¥64.8

19.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.09 ¥122

$11.54 ¥78.0

56.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.5 ¥395

$42.29 ¥286

38.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.25 ¥110

$14.13 ¥95.5

15.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 ¥41.79

$6.02 ¥40.65

2.66%

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

$453 ¥3,059

$328 ¥2,217

37.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.7K ¥194.3K

$16.8K ¥113.7K

70.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 ¥387

$44.49 ¥301

28.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 ¥239

$29.91 ¥202

18.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 ¥476

$71.9 ¥486

-2.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.6 ¥625

$72.2 ¥488

28.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 ¥3,453

$282 ¥1,902

81.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 ¥2,022

$194 ¥1,312

54.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,156 ¥7,814

$592 ¥4,003

95.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 ¥4,552

$359 ¥2,427

87.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,615 ¥51.5K

$2,972 ¥20.1K

156.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,739 ¥25.3K

$2,059 ¥13.9K

81.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,418 ¥9,579

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.83

3.89

-1.54%

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

Last update for Hangzhou: July 13, 2026

Last update for Changshu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $511 in Hangzhou and $282 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 $223 vs $198 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 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,342 in Hangzhou and $1,076 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: $511 in Hangzhou versus $282 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 $894 per month in Hangzhou versus $717 in Changshu – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $717 in Changshu versus $894 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 25% less than in Hangzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.