Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and Chifeng

For one person, living is cheaper in Chifeng: $714 a month against $3,245 in Sydney, rent and utilities included – about $30,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sydney
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,245
/mo nomad
Chifeng
🇨🇳 China
$714
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sydney and in Chifeng

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sydney and in Chifeng actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,245 per month in Sydney vs $714 in Chifeng, rent included.

  • Sydney $3,245
  • Chifeng $714

A couple spends around $4,803 per month in Sydney vs $1,132 in Chifeng, rent included.

  • Sydney $4,803
  • Chifeng $1,132

A family of three spends $6,362 per month in Sydney vs $1,550 in Chifeng, rent included.

  • Sydney $6,362
  • Chifeng $1,550

Sydney costs about 354% more than Chifeng, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Sydney sits 139% above the global median, while Chifeng is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41 A$25.05
$2.85 ¥19.05
510.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$90.3 A$130
$21.61 ¥144
317.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 A$17.15
$4.78 ¥31.94
149.37%
Cappuccino
$4.03 A$5.80
$3.06 ¥20.49
31.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 A$4.15
$0.43 ¥2.90
569.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 A$3.20
$0.27 ¥1.79
725.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 A$11.36
$0.89 ¥5.97
786.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78 A$9.76
$2.04 ¥13.66
232.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 A$2.45
$1.85 ¥12.36
-7.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 A$4.23
$1.59 ¥10.66
84.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 A$3.61
$0.90 ¥6.05
178.89%
Eggs
$5.55 A$7.99
$1.59 ¥10.61
249.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 A$16.94
$13.04 ¥87.2
-9.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.28 A$13.35
$3.14 ¥20.98
195.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.70 A$24.03
$10.06 ¥67.3
66.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.92 A$5.64
$1.85 ¥12.38
111.89%
Banana (1kg)
$3.16 A$4.55
$1.22 ¥8.14
159.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.48 A$5.00
$1.49 ¥9.99
133.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 A$6.31
$1.10 ¥7.38
298.18%
Potato (1kg)
$3.33 A$4.79
$0.73 ¥4.88
356.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.40 A$3.46
$0.90 ¥6.03
166.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 A$3.32
$0.55 ¥3.70
320.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 A$1.65
$0.50 ¥3.37
130.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$44.34 A$63.8
$3.18 ¥21.26
1294.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.71 A$19.72
$10.53 ¥70.4
30.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.00 A$5.75
$0.80 ¥5.35
400.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 A$5.80
$1.66 ¥11.09
142.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.22 A$4.63
$0.29 ¥1.94
1010.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$154 A$222
$16.88 ¥113
812.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 A$5.14
$1.35 ¥9.02
164.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 A$2.27
$0.33 ¥2.20
378.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.44 A$56.8
$6.57 ¥43.91
500.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 A$2.13
$1.13 ¥7.58
30.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K A$42.5K
$19.4K ¥130.0K
52.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K A$39.8K
$17.0K ¥113.5K
62.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$241 A$347
$44.92 ¥300
437.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.57 A$39.67
$9.63 ¥64.4
186.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3 A$81.0
$11.56 ¥77.3
386.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.1 A$112
$41.01 ¥274
90.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.26 A$33.47
$13.95 ¥93.3
66.74%
Cinema Ticket
$17.55 A$25.26
$5.99 ¥40.07
192.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,185 A$3,144
$330 ¥2,209
561.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.8K A$40.0K
$16.7K ¥111.8K
66.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0 A$115
$43.27 ¥289
84.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.7 A$102
$29.90 ¥200
136.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$159
$71.0 ¥475
55.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 A$186
$72.6 ¥485
78.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,477 A$3,564
$273 ¥1,825
807.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,777 A$2,557
$193 ¥1,293
818.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,885 A$7,030
$595 ¥3,981
720.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,093 A$4,451
$361 ¥2,417
755.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.4K A$19.3K
$2,973 ¥19.9K
350.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,375 A$12.1K
$2,064 ¥13.8K
305.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sydney
Chifeng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,074 A$5,862
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.92
3.89
52.19%

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

Last update for Sydney: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chifeng: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sydney
$1.8K
Chifeng
$193 89.1% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
Sydney
$378
Chifeng
$198 47.6% $180
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
$325
Chifeng
$66 79.7% $259
Eating Out
Sydney
$297
Chifeng
$85 71.3% $212
Getting Around
Sydney
$178
Chifeng
$21 88.2% $157
Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
$176
Chifeng
$98 44.5% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
$113
Chifeng
$53 53.2% $60

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,477 in Sydney versus $273 in Chifeng. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Sydney versus $22.00 in Chifeng. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $198 – making Chifeng the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Sydney
🇨🇳 Chifeng
🕒 Local time
21:21 9:21 PM
18:21 6:21 PM
3 h behind Sydney
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,840,600
1,175,391
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1.44 AUD (1 AUD = 0.695 USD). 1 EUR = 1.62 AUD (1 AUD = 0.618 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sydney Chifeng 9,080 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sydney
  • Chifeng

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sydney vs Chifeng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chifeng cheaper than Sydney?
Yes – Sydney is pricier by about 354%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,867 per month in Sydney and $1,072 in Chifeng. 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 Chifeng, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Sydney or in Chifeng?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Sydney and $22.00 in Chifeng. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sydney and in Chifeng?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,245 in Sydney and $714 in Chifeng. That's a gap of about 354%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sydney or in Chifeng?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chifeng, where all-in costs run around $714, than in Sydney at $3,245. In Chifeng it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sydney it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sydney or Chifeng more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chifeng – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sydney or Chifeng?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chifeng. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sydney makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Sydney vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?