😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $908 in Hangzhou versus $724 in Dongying.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,462 in Hangzhou versus $1,143 in Dongying.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,017 in Hangzhou versus $1,561 in Dongying.
😐Living in Hangzhou is roughly 25% more expensive than Dongying, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hangzhou32% lower, Dongying46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.50¥23.68
$2.74¥18.53
27.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.22¥178
$21.48¥145
22.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.91¥33.24
$4.84¥32.77
1.45%
Cappuccino
$3.39¥22.97
$3.05¥20.66
11.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.26
$0.46¥3.13
4.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.98
$0.29¥1.97
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10¥7.44
$0.95¥6.45
15.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63¥11.02
$2.07¥14.03
-21.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98¥13.42
$1.88¥12.71
5.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97¥13.32
$1.59¥10.79
23.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99¥6.72
$0.91¥6.13
8.79%
Eggs
$1.81¥12.27
$1.59¥10.76
13.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.80¥114
$12.89¥87.3
30.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.58¥17.48
$3.17¥21.44
-18.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.63¥65.2
$10.31¥69.8
-6.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04¥13.83
$1.82¥12.32
12.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79¥12.12
$1.22¥8.24
46.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60¥10.80
$1.52¥10.31
5.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20¥8.12
$1.09¥7.40
10.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.85
$0.70¥4.75
2.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00¥6.77
$0.95¥6.44
5.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63¥4.26
$0.60¥4.06
5.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53¥3.62
$0.52¥3.50
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27¥28.90
$3.16¥21.38
35.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56¥91.8
$10.42¥70.5
30.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69¥4.67
$0.73¥4.97
-5.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70¥11.48
$1.59¥10.74
6.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51¥3.43
$0.27¥1.81
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.03¥102
$16.54¥112
-9.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.77¥11.97
$1.37¥9.26
29.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42¥2.86
$0.35¥2.40
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.45¥43.65
$6.82¥46.13
-5.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.71
$1.18¥7.96
-3.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥131.7K
$19.7K¥133.7K
-1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥113.4K
$17.5K¥118.8K
-4.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.27¥306
$44.34¥300
2.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28¥76.3
$9.61¥65.0
17.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.42¥125
$11.65¥78.9
58.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.0¥406
$41.72¥282
43.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.86¥107
$14.08¥95.3
12.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42¥43.48
$5.75¥38.93
11.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456¥3,086
$332¥2,249
37.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.5K¥193.1K
$16.5K¥111.6K
73.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2¥380
$43.94¥297
27.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96¥237
$30.61¥207
14.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.1¥488
$72.8¥493
-0.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.3¥632
$73.2¥495
27.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$523¥3,543
$281¥1,902
86.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301¥2,037
$195¥1,320
54.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,118¥7,565
$582¥3,940
92.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$685¥4,636
$354¥2,399
93.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,767¥52.6K
$3,087¥20.9K
151.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,765¥25.5K
$2,004¥13.6K
87.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,470¥9,952
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Dongying: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $523 in Hangzhou and $281 in Dongying. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Hangzhou vs $21.00 in Dongying for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $198 per month, with Dongying 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 Dongying: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dongying cheaper than Hangzhou?
Dongying 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.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,362 in Hangzhou and $1,086 in Dongying 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.
What is the rent difference between Hangzhou and Dongying?
Rent for a central apartment: $523 in Hangzhou versus $281 in Dongying. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $456 in Hangzhou versus $332 in Dongying. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Hangzhou and Dongying?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Hangzhou. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Hangzhou or Dongying?
At $724 in Dongying versus $908 in Hangzhou, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dongying but tight or insufficient in Hangzhou. The gap between the two cities makes Dongying the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Hangzhou or Dongying?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dongying 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.