😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $894 in Hangzhou versus $706 in Dongying.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Hangzhou versus $1,122 in Dongying.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,037 in Hangzhou versus $1,538 in Dongying.
🌍Living in Hangzhou is roughly 27% more expensive than in Dongying, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hangzhou33% lower, Dongying47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47¥23.44
$2.85¥19.23
21.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.12¥177
$21.85¥148
19.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.83¥32.61
$5.01¥33.87
-3.59%
Cappuccino
$3.56¥24.07
$3.05¥20.62
16.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51¥3.45
$0.43¥2.90
18.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.27¥1.81
7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.33
$0.87¥5.85
24.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70¥11.47
$2.07¥14.01
-17.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02¥13.66
$1.79¥12.07
12.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91¥12.91
$1.54¥10.42
24.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95¥6.42
$0.91¥6.13
4.40%
Eggs
$1.71¥11.58
$1.61¥10.89
6.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29¥117
$12.81¥86.6
34.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.60¥17.56
$3.22¥21.74
-19.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87¥66.7
$10.09¥68.2
-2.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97¥13.32
$1.88¥12.68
4.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72¥11.61
$1.24¥8.40
38.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59¥10.72
$1.49¥10.08
6.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20¥8.12
$1.15¥7.77
4.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73¥4.92
$0.70¥4.70
4.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99¥6.69
$0.88¥5.98
12.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67¥4.50
$0.60¥4.04
11.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49¥3.29
$0.55¥3.69
-10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16¥28.12
$3.09¥20.91
34.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.30¥89.9
$10.73¥72.5
23.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74¥4.98
$0.74¥5.00
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68¥11.37
$1.59¥10.74
5.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51¥3.46
$0.27¥1.82
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.52¥105
$16.77¥113
-7.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.84¥12.44
$1.42¥9.60
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
$6.61¥44.67
-6.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16¥7.84
$1.16¥7.85
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥131.8K
$19.3K¥130.6K
0.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K¥113.7K
$17.1K¥115.6K
-1.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.61¥295
$44.63¥302
-2.29%
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
$11.62¥78.5
55.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.5¥395
$41.00¥277
42.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.25¥110
$14.13¥95.5
15.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18¥41.79
$6.05¥40.87
2.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453¥3,059
$329¥2,226
37.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.7K¥194.3K
$17.1K¥115.9K
67.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2¥387
$44.07¥298
29.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.35¥239
$30.66¥207
15.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.4¥476
$72.4¥489
-2.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.6¥625
$72.5¥490
27.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$511¥3,453
$280¥1,895
82.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$299¥2,022
$196¥1,327
52.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,156¥7,814
$583¥3,941
98.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674¥4,552
$362¥2,444
86.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,615¥51.5K
$3,032¥20.5K
151.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,739¥25.3K
$2,024¥13.7K
84.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hangzhou
Dongying
Difference
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 Dongying: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $511 in Hangzhou and $280 in Dongying. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Hangzhou vs $22.00 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,342 in Hangzhou and $1,059 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: $511 in Hangzhou versus $280 in Dongying. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $453 in Hangzhou versus $329 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 in 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 living in Hangzhou or in Dongying?
At $706 in Dongying versus $894 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 in 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 27% less than in Hangzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.