Cost of Living Comparison Between Hangzhou and Nanning Cost of Living Comparison Between Hangzhou and Nanning

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Hangzhou vs $700 in Nanning, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,496 per month in Hangzhou vs $1,090 in Nanning, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,079 per month in Hangzhou vs $1,480 in Nanning, rent included.

Hangzhou costs about 30% more than Nanning, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hangzhou and Nanning are more affordable than the global median – Hangzhou 32% lower, Nanning 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.49 ¥23.92
$2.81 ¥19.28
24.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.77 ¥183
$19.16 ¥131
39.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 ¥33.91
$5.07 ¥34.70
-2.37%
Cappuccino
$3.47 ¥23.78
$2.26 ¥15.50
53.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.32
$0.51 ¥3.49
-5.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.99
$0.25 ¥1.70
16.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.44
$0.80 ¥5.48
36.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ¥11.20
$2.34 ¥16.03
-29.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 ¥13.59
$1.69 ¥11.59
17.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 ¥12.92
$1.10 ¥7.55
71.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ¥6.95
$1.03 ¥7.07
-1.94%
Eggs
$1.77 ¥12.15
$1.53 ¥10.50
15.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.18 ¥118
$9.31 ¥63.8
84.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 ¥17.70
$3.30 ¥22.58
-21.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 ¥66.7
$15.22 ¥104
-36.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 ¥13.53
$1.86 ¥12.77
6.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 ¥11.94
$1.10 ¥7.56
58.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 ¥10.87
$1.18 ¥8.11
34.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.57
$1.63 ¥11.16
-23.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ¥5.25
$0.91 ¥6.23
-15.38%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 ¥6.67
$1.08 ¥7.40
-10.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 ¥4.33
$0.44 ¥2.99
43.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.57
$0.54 ¥3.72
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 ¥29.43
$3.49 ¥23.91
23.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.38 ¥91.7
$14.57 ¥99.8
-8.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥5.03
$0.89 ¥6.07
-17.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ¥11.61
$1.84 ¥12.62
-7.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 ¥3.45
$0.51 ¥3.51
-1.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.25 ¥104
$14.46 ¥99.1
5.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 ¥12.70
$1.29 ¥8.81
43.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ¥2.67
$0.39 ¥2.68
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.32 ¥43.27
$7.76 ¥53.2
-18.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ¥8.06
$1.14 ¥7.82
3.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K ¥134.1K
$21.6K ¥147.9K
-9.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥116.5K
$12.7K ¥86.7K
34.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.96 ¥301
$40.21 ¥275
9.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.44 ¥78.4
$13.13 ¥90.0
-12.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67 ¥128
$10.78 ¥73.8
73.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ¥411
$69.1 ¥473
-13.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 ¥112
$6.89 ¥47.17
137.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.11 ¥41.84
$5.73 ¥39.24
6.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$452 ¥3,095
$298 ¥2,040
51.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.2K ¥200.3K
$13.9K ¥95.2K
110.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ¥388
$18.85 ¥129
200.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.21 ¥241
$28.25 ¥193
24.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.6 ¥491
$65.6 ¥449
9.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.5 ¥627
$104 ¥713
-12.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 ¥3,550
$234 ¥1,604
121.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$306 ¥2,095
$147 ¥1,005
108.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 ¥7,746
$353 ¥2,415
220.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 ¥4,577
$277 ¥1,895
141.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,144 ¥55.8K
$3,469 ¥23.8K
134.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,907 ¥26.8K
$1,399 ¥9,583
179.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hangzhou
Nanning
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,389 ¥9,512
$663 ¥4,544
109.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.83
4.18
-8.37%

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

Last update for Hangzhou: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nanning: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $518 in Hangzhou versus $234 in Nanning. 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 109% 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 $27.00 in Hangzhou versus $19.00 in Nanning. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $208 – making Nanning 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 Nanning: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nanning cheaper than Hangzhou?
Yes – Hangzhou is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,368 per month in Hangzhou and $1,050 in Nanning. 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 Nanning, 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 Nanning?
Groceries cost about 8% 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 Nanning?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Hangzhou and $19.00 in Nanning. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Hangzhou or Nanning?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nanning, where all-in costs run around $700, than in Hangzhou at $912. In Nanning it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hangzhou it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hangzhou or Nanning more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nanning – 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 Nanning. 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.

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