😐A single person spends $908 per month in Hangzhou vs $697 in Jining, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,462 per month in Hangzhou vs $1,132 in Jining, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,017 per month in Hangzhou vs $1,567 in Jining, rent included.
😐Hangzhou costs about 30% more than Jining, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hangzhou and Jining are more affordable than the global median – Hangzhou32% lower, Jining48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.50¥23.69
$2.75¥18.60
27.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.22¥178
$20.75¥141
26.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.91¥33.26
$4.99¥33.80
-1.60%
Cappuccino
$3.39¥22.98
$3.05¥20.68
11.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.27
$0.43¥2.94
11.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.98
$0.27¥1.81
7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10¥7.44
$0.93¥6.27
18.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63¥11.03
$2.14¥14.47
-23.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98¥13.43
$1.80¥12.18
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97¥13.33
$1.53¥10.34
28.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99¥6.73
$0.92¥6.22
7.61%
Eggs
$1.81¥12.28
$1.63¥11.01
11.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.80¥114
$13.09¥88.7
28.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.58¥17.49
$3.12¥21.13
-17.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.63¥65.2
$10.17¥68.9
-5.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04¥13.83
$1.79¥12.10
13.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79¥12.13
$1.27¥8.58
40.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60¥10.81
$1.36¥9.21
17.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20¥8.12
$1.09¥7.39
10.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.85
$0.73¥4.94
-1.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00¥6.77
$0.92¥6.24
8.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63¥4.26
$0.59¥4.01
6.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53¥3.62
$0.55¥3.73
-3.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27¥28.92
$3.04¥20.60
40.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56¥91.9
$8.62¥58.4
57.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69¥4.67
$0.80¥5.45
-13.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70¥11.49
$1.66¥11.27
2.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51¥3.44
$0.27¥1.82
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.03¥102
$16.98¥115
-11.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.77¥11.98
$1.35¥9.15
31.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42¥2.86
$0.33¥2.22
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.45¥43.67
$6.52¥44.17
-1.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.72
$1.18¥7.96
-3.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥131.8K
$19.4K¥131.6K
0.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥113.4K
$16.7K¥113.0K
0.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.27¥307
$45.43¥308
-0.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28¥76.4
$9.76¥66.1
15.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.42¥125
$11.47¥77.7
60.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.0¥407
$41.93¥284
43.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.86¥107
$13.88¥94.0
14.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42¥43.51
$6.20¥42.01
3.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456¥3,088
$339¥2,295
34.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.5K¥193.3K
$17.0K¥115.3K
67.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2¥381
$44.29¥300
26.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96¥237
$30.40¥206
15.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.1¥488
$70.5¥478
2.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.3¥632
$74.2¥503
25.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$523¥3,546
$282¥1,910
85.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301¥2,038
$184¥1,247
63.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,118¥7,569
$603¥4,084
85.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$685¥4,638
$365¥2,472
87.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,767¥52.6K
$3,175¥21.5K
144.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,765¥25.5K
$1,791¥12.1K
110.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hangzhou
Jining
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,470¥9,958
$577¥3,909
154.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
3.87
-1.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hangzhou: June 1, 2026
Last update for Jining: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $523 in Hangzhou versus $282 in Jining. 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 155% 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 $21.00 in Jining. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $194 – making Jining the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Jining: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jining cheaper than Hangzhou?
Yes – Hangzhou is pricier by about 30%, 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 $1,362 per month in Hangzhou and $1,046 in Jining. 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 Jining, 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 Jining?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Hangzhou, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Hangzhou or Jining?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Hangzhou and $21.00 in Jining. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Hangzhou or Jining?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jining, where all-in costs run around $697, than in Hangzhou at $908. In Jining it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hangzhou it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hangzhou or Jining more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jining – 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 Jining. 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.