😐A single person spends $916 per month in Hangzhou vs $746 in Heyuan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,469 per month in Hangzhou vs $1,180 in Heyuan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,022 per month in Hangzhou vs $1,614 in Heyuan, rent included.
😐Hangzhou costs about 23% more than Heyuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hangzhou and Heyuan are more affordable than the global median – Hangzhou31% lower, Heyuan44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40¥22.97
$2.83¥19.18
20.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.27¥178
$15.02¥102
74.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.00¥33.80
$4.26¥28.82
17.37%
Cappuccino
$3.43¥23.24
$2.11¥14.27
62.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49¥3.30
$0.33¥2.26
48.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.98
$0.22¥1.49
31.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.09¥7.41
$0.68¥4.58
60.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64¥11.10
$1.71¥11.57
-4.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99¥13.47
$1.97¥13.33
1.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91¥12.95
$2.08¥14.04
-8.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99¥6.70
$1.24¥8.41
-20.16%
Eggs
$1.74¥11.77
$1.51¥10.19
15.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29¥117
$18.72¥127
-7.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.72¥18.37
$4.50¥30.45
-39.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.88¥66.9
$14.06¥95.1
-29.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01¥13.62
$2.09¥14.17
-3.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75¥11.82
$1.20¥8.14
45.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63¥11.04
$1.94¥13.11
-15.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21¥8.22
$1.42¥9.61
-14.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73¥4.96
$0.88¥5.97
-17.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94¥6.37
$1.09¥7.34
-13.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63¥4.29
$0.56¥3.81
12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50¥3.36
$0.64¥4.35
-21.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27¥28.85
$3.90¥26.35
9.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.15¥89.0
$12.06¥81.6
9.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69¥4.64
$0.95¥6.45
-27.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69¥11.41
$1.41¥9.53
19.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48¥3.22
$0.29¥1.97
65.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.22¥103
$16.80¥114
-9.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.78¥12.02
$1.72¥11.61
3.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42¥2.87
$0.34¥2.33
23.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24¥42.20
$6.30¥42.63
-0.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥7.63
$1.14¥7.69
-0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥131.7K
$20.6K¥139.5K
-5.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K¥116.2K
$19.4K¥131.1K
-11.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.83¥297
$60.6¥410
-27.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.35¥76.8
$13.19¥89.2
-13.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.11¥123
$11.56¥78.2
56.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.3¥401
$42.19¥285
40.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38¥111
$13.83¥93.6
18.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19¥41.88
$6.49¥43.91
-4.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$448¥3,034
$319¥2,156
40.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.7K¥193.9K
$16.3K¥110.3K
75.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2¥387
$40.29¥273
41.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.56¥234
$28.40¥192
21.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8¥479
$68.9¥466
2.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1¥623
$61.1¥414
50.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515¥3,484
$282¥1,906
82.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$307¥2,078
$190¥1,287
61.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,149¥7,770
$584¥3,952
96.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$659¥4,460
$360¥2,438
82.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,739¥52.4K
$2,831¥19.1K
173.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,805¥25.7K
$1,929¥13.1K
97.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hangzhou
Heyuan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,442¥9,758
$1,340¥9,068
7.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
4.08
-6.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hangzhou: July 20, 2026
Last update for Heyuan: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Hangzhou versus $282 in Heyuan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 8% higher in Hangzhou, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Hangzhou versus $15.00 in Heyuan. Groceries tell a different story – $224 in Hangzhou vs $251 in Heyuan – so Hangzhou wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Heyuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heyuan cheaper than Hangzhou?
Yes – Hangzhou is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,373 per month in Hangzhou and $1,119 in Heyuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Heyuan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Hangzhou and in Heyuan?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Hangzhou – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Hangzhou or in Heyuan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Hangzhou and $15.00 in Heyuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Hangzhou or in Heyuan?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Heyuan, where all-in costs run around $746, than in Hangzhou at $916. In Heyuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hangzhou it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hangzhou or Heyuan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Heyuan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Heyuan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hangzhou makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.