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 $774 per month in La Marsa vs $677 in Chengdu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,355 per month in La Marsa vs $1,074 in Chengdu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,936 per month in La Marsa vs $1,472 in Chengdu, rent included.

La Marsa costs about 14% more than Chengdu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Marsa and Chengdu are more affordable than the global median – La Marsa 42% lower, Chengdu 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 TND 9.71
$2.82 ¥19.09
21.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.16 TND 62.8
$24.08 ¥163
-7.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.12 TND 11.67
$4.97 ¥33.66
-17.10%
Cappuccino
$0.78 TND 2.20
$2.76 ¥18.71
-71.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.69
$0.43 ¥2.92
39.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.71
$0.28 ¥1.88
-10.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 TND 4.20
$1.14 ¥7.70
29.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 TND 6.99
$2.06 ¥13.97
19.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.54 TND 1.52
$1.81 ¥12.28
-70.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.19 TND 0.55
$1.39 ¥9.39
-86.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 TND 4.19
$0.93 ¥6.31
59.14%
Eggs
$1.59 TND 4.49
$1.94 ¥13.10
-18.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.11 TND 31.47
$13.76 ¥93.2
-19.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.59 TND 15.85
$3.61 ¥24.41
54.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 TND 38.13
$11.32 ¥76.6
18.90%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 TND 5.53
$1.91 ¥12.94
2.09%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 TND 8.75
$1.22 ¥8.28
153.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 TND 2.87
$1.50 ¥10.18
-32.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.68 TND 1.93
$1.02 ¥6.90
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 TND 1.92
$0.71 ¥4.81
-4.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 TND 1.33
$0.70 ¥4.76
-32.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 TND 0.95
$0.60 ¥4.09
-45.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.71
$0.61 ¥4.16
-59.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 TND 9.47
$3.40 ¥23.02
-1.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.83 TND 19.35
$5.50 ¥37.19
24.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.23
$0.95 ¥6.42
20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 TND 2.97
$1.85 ¥12.53
-43.24%
🚌 Getting Around
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.92
$0.43 ¥2.94
-23.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.71 TND 19.00
$27.94 ¥189
-75.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$1.24 ¥8.38
-75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 TND 0.62
$0.28 ¥1.91
-21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.05 TND 11.47
$4.16 ¥28.15
-2.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 TND 2.39
$1.17 ¥7.95
-28.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K TND 97.8K
$18.5K ¥125.0K
86.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K TND 77.0K
$16.7K ¥112.7K
63.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.70 TND 98.3
$44.66 ¥302
-22.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.33 TND 26.44
$11.53 ¥78.1
-19.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.55 TND 41.22
$11.33 ¥76.7
28.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 TND 127
$24.18 ¥164
85.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.44 TND 21.08
$11.55 ¥78.2
-35.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70 TND 13.33
$5.69 ¥38.53
-17.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$84.2 TND 238
$330 ¥2,232
-74.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,343 TND 6,638
$12.3K ¥83.5K
-81.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.45 TND 126
$37.54 ¥254
18.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.91 TND 127
$38.48 ¥260
16.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.2 TND 256
$66.8 ¥452
35.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1 TND 187
$50.0 ¥339
32.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$353 TND 1,001
$320 ¥2,165
10.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$283 TND 803
$183 ¥1,237
54.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$760 TND 2,155
$611 ¥4,138
24.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$809 TND 2,292
$329 ¥2,224
146.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,829 TND 5,183
$3,785 ¥25.6K
-51.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,027 TND 2,910
$1,925 ¥13.0K
-46.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Marsa
Chengdu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 TND 967
$1,278 ¥8,647
-73.29%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Chengdu: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in La Marsa versus $320 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 274% 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: $186 vs $198 – 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 in Chengdu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $774 in La Marsa, $677 in Chengdu – roughly 14% 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 $1,161 per month in La Marsa and $1,015 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 $774 in La Marsa and $677 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 $774 in La Marsa and $677 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 $677 in Chengdu to $774 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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