Cost of Living Comparison Between La Marsa and Chengdu Cost of Living Comparison Between La Marsa and Chengdu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $768 per month in La Marsa vs $689 in Chengdu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,356 per month in La Marsa vs $1,083 in Chengdu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,944 per month in La Marsa vs $1,477 in Chengdu, rent included.

La Marsa costs about 12% more than Chengdu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Marsa and Chengdu are more affordable than the global median – La Marsa 43% lower, Chengdu 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 TND 9.64
$2.85 ¥19.30
16.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.93 TND 63.7
$24.00 ¥162
-8.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.12 TND 11.98
$4.99 ¥33.72
-17.43%
Cappuccino
$0.71 TND 2.06
$2.77 ¥18.73
-74.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 TND 1.72
$0.46 ¥3.14
28.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 TND 0.66
$0.30 ¥2.06
-23.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 TND 4.36
$1.13 ¥7.62
32.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 TND 7.31
$2.13 ¥14.43
18.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.44
$1.80 ¥12.18
-72.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.20 TND 0.57
$1.39 ¥9.38
-85.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 TND 4.45
$0.90 ¥6.09
70.00%
Eggs
$1.63 TND 4.72
$1.86 ¥12.59
-12.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 TND 32.49
$13.62 ¥92.1
-17.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 TND 16.67
$3.56 ¥24.07
61.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 TND 39.79
$11.23 ¥76.0
22.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 TND 5.67
$1.86 ¥12.61
4.84%
Banana (1kg)
$3.10 TND 8.99
$1.18 ¥7.99
162.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 TND 2.94
$1.50 ¥10.15
-32.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.15
$1.04 ¥7.01
-28.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 TND 1.83
$0.70 ¥4.73
-10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 TND 1.36
$0.70 ¥4.71
-32.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 TND 1.05
$0.56 ¥3.81
-35.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.78
$0.61 ¥4.12
-55.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 TND 9.88
$3.24 ¥21.91
4.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.76 TND 19.62
$5.44 ¥36.77
24.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 TND 3.30
$1.00 ¥6.78
13.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 TND 3.07
$1.87 ¥12.67
-43.32%
🚌 Getting Around
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.03
$0.41 ¥2.77
-14.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.87 TND 19.93
$27.31 ¥185
-74.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.83
$1.22 ¥8.28
-76.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 TND 0.58
$0.26 ¥1.75
-23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 TND 11.49
$4.09 ¥27.62
-3.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.54
$1.14 ¥7.69
-22.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K TND 98.8K
$18.7K ¥126.6K
81.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K TND 80.1K
$16.0K ¥108.4K
72.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.90 TND 98.4
$45.05 ¥305
-24.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.46 TND 27.47
$11.69 ¥79.1
-19.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.53 TND 42.19
$11.38 ¥77.0
27.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.94 TND 133
$24.49 ¥166
87.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77 TND 22.55
$11.16 ¥75.5
-30.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 TND 13.36
$5.54 ¥37.45
-16.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$84.1 TND 244
$333 ¥2,249
-74.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,375 TND 6,897
$12.1K ¥82.1K
-80.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.42 TND 132
$37.92 ¥256
19.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83 TND 130
$38.57 ¥261
16.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 TND 258
$67.4 ¥456
31.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6 TND 191
$50.7 ¥343
29.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$354 TND 1,028
$318 ¥2,149
11.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$280 TND 812
$179 ¥1,213
55.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$775 TND 2,249
$610 ¥4,128
26.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$830 TND 2,408
$335 ¥2,263
147.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,872 TND 5,436
$3,810 ¥25.8K
-50.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,046 TND 3,038
$1,922 ¥13.0K
-45.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 TND 1,004
$1,257 ¥8,501
-72.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
4.21
223.04%

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

Last update for La Marsa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chengdu: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in La Marsa versus $318 in Chengdu. 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 264% higher in Chengdu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in La Marsa versus $24.00 in Chengdu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $196 – making La Marsa 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
La Marsa vs Chengdu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in La Marsa and Chengdu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $768 in La Marsa, $689 in Chengdu – roughly 12% apart. La Marsa costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in La Marsa compared to Chengdu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,152 per month in La Marsa and $1,033 in Chengdu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between La Marsa and Chengdu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chengdu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in La Marsa and $24.00 in Chengdu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: La Marsa or Chengdu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $768 in La Marsa and $689 in Chengdu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in La Marsa vs Chengdu?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $768 in La Marsa and $689 in Chengdu, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between La Marsa and Chengdu?
It depends on your priorities. La Marsa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $689 in Chengdu to $768 in La Marsa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is La Marsa or Chengdu safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between La Marsa and Chengdu?
If budget matters most, go with Chengdu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Marsa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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