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 $806 per month in La Marsa vs $763 in Chengdu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,326 per month in La Marsa vs $1,225 in Chengdu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,846 per month in La Marsa vs $1,688 in Chengdu, rent included.

La Marsa costs about 6% more than Chengdu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Marsa and Chengdu are more affordable than the global median – La Marsa 41% lower, Chengdu 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.39 TND 9.82
$2.90 ¥19.46
16.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.50 TND 59.3
$20.18 ¥135
1.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.50 TND 15.90
$5.18 ¥34.79
6.18%
Cappuccino
$1.22 TND 3.52
$2.94 ¥19.70
-58.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 TND 1.77
$0.48 ¥3.19
27.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 TND 0.75
$0.28 ¥1.89
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.59 TND 4.59
$1.46 ¥9.78
8.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 TND 6.08
$2.50 ¥16.75
-16.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.55 TND 1.60
$1.76 ¥11.82
-68.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 TND 0.85
$1.64 ¥11.00
-81.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 TND 6.54
$0.94 ¥6.32
140.43%
Eggs
$1.91 TND 5.54
$1.54 ¥10.30
24.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.21 TND 29.54
$14.19 ¥95.2
-28.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 TND 18.74
$3.51 ¥23.54
84.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.50 TND 39.05
$11.04 ¥74.1
22.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 TND 5.87
$1.82 ¥12.21
11.54%
Banana (1kg)
$3.59 TND 10.39
$1.26 ¥8.47
184.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 TND 4.38
$1.06 ¥7.11
43.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.86
$1.25 ¥8.39
-48.80%
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 TND 1.64
$0.69 ¥4.64
-17.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 TND 1.87
$0.72 ¥4.84
-9.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 TND 1.29
$0.73 ¥4.91
-39.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 TND 0.83
$0.59 ¥3.93
-50.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72 TND 10.76
$3.63 ¥24.33
2.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.71 TND 19.41
$5.47 ¥36.67
22.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 TND 3.86
$0.79 ¥5.29
69.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 TND 4.75
$1.53 ¥10.27
7.19%
🚌 Getting Around
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.94
$0.43 ¥2.91
-25.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.15 TND 20.68
$24.95 ¥167
-71.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.87
$1.32 ¥8.82
-77.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 TND 1.27
$0.29 ¥1.94
51.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 TND 11.83
$4.38 ¥29.37
-6.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.53
$1.23 ¥8.22
-28.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K TND 110.2K
$19.4K ¥130.0K
96.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K TND 93.9K
$17.4K ¥116.9K
86.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.78 TND 101
$41.04 ¥275
-15.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 TND 37.27
$9.46 ¥63.4
36.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.39 TND 53.2
$12.83 ¥86.1
43.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.85 TND 124
$27.45 ¥184
56.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.39 TND 21.36
$11.02 ¥74.0
-32.94%
Cinema Ticket
$5.44 TND 15.74
$6.02 ¥40.40
-9.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.8 TND 173
$410 ¥2,751
-85.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,654 TND 7,674
$14.8K ¥99.1K
-82.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 TND 187
$28.78 ¥193
124.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.6 TND 204
$29.21 ¥196
141.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 TND 268
$60.8 ¥408
52.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.2 TND 267
$52.7 ¥353
75.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$300 TND 867
$486 ¥3,264
-38.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 TND 693
$256 ¥1,716
-6.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 TND 2,107
$849 ¥5,699
-14.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 TND 1,702
$545 ¥3,660
7.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,834 TND 5,305
$3,813 ¥25.6K
-51.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,072 TND 3,099
$1,909 ¥12.8K
-43.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$336 TND 972
$1,284 ¥8,613
-73.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14
3.38
314.20%

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

Last update for La Marsa: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chengdu: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $300 in La Marsa versus $486 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 282% 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 $20.00 in La Marsa versus $20.00 in Chengdu. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in La Marsa vs $196 in Chengdu – so Chengdu 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
La Marsa vs Chengdu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in La Marsa and in Chengdu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $806 in La Marsa, $763 in Chengdu – roughly 6% 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 $1,209 per month in La Marsa and $1,145 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 $20.00 in La Marsa and $20.00 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 $806 in La Marsa and $763 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 compared to Chengdu?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $806 in La Marsa and $763 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 $763 in Chengdu to $806 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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