Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Sydney and China
For one person, living is cheaper in China: $784 a month against $3,182 in Sydney, rent and utilities included – about $28,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Sydney Living Index155Cost of Living Index in SydneyLearn more -
China Living Index39Cost of Living Index in ChinaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Sydney is 150.9% more expensive than China without rent, and 306.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sydney is 158.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 254.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Sydney
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 A$25.28
$2.90 ¥19.39
508.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.1 A$139
$22.02 ¥147
340.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.94 A$17.09
$5.20 ¥34.74
129.62%
Cappuccino
$4.00 A$5.72
$3.04 ¥20.31
31.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 A$4.06
$0.52 ¥3.45
446.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 A$3.25
$0.28 ¥1.85
710.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 A$11.29
$1.01 ¥6.75
681.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13 A$10.20
$2.19 ¥14.64
225.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sydney
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 A$2.38
$1.75 ¥11.71
-5.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.79 A$4.00
$1.64 ¥10.96
70.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 A$3.33
$0.92 ¥6.12
152.17%
Eggs
$5.53 A$7.92
$1.59 ¥10.66
247.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.08 A$17.28
$12.99 ¥86.8
-7.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.84 A$14.09
$3.35 ¥22.38
193.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.61 A$23.78
$11.18 ¥74.7
48.57%
Apples (1kg)
$4.02 A$5.76
$1.80 ¥12.02
123.33%
Banana (1kg)
$3.15 A$4.51
$1.31 ¥8.78
140.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 A$5.01
$1.47 ¥9.80
138.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.47 A$6.39
$1.32 ¥8.79
238.64%
Potato (1kg)
$3.32 A$4.76
$0.76 ¥5.07
336.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 A$3.30
$0.92 ¥6.15
150.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 A$3.35
$0.59 ¥3.94
296.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 A$1.65
$0.54 ¥3.63
112.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$45.02 A$64.4
$3.79 ¥25.34
1087.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.96 A$19.97
$12.14 ¥81.1
14.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.98 A$5.70
$0.82 ¥5.48
385.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 A$5.82
$1.63 ¥10.92
149.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Sydney
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.16 A$4.52
$0.29 ¥1.93
989.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$150 A$215
$22.33 ¥149
571.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 A$4.94
$1.53 ¥10.24
125.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 A$2.33
$0.35 ¥2.31
365.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.98 A$57.2
$7.00 ¥46.79
471.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 A$2.01
$1.31 ¥8.77
6.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K A$40.7K
$19.0K ¥127.1K
49.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K A$42.1K
$17.0K ¥113.7K
72.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 A$315
$54.1 ¥362
306.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.70 A$39.64
$8.42 ¥56.3
228.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.5 A$79.5
$10.72 ¥71.6
418.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sydney
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.3 A$106
$40.72 ¥272
82.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.95 A$34.28
$14.58 ¥97.4
64.27%
Cinema Ticket
$17.73 A$25.37
$6.76 ¥45.15
162.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sydney
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,157 A$3,087
$462 ¥3,089
366.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K A$40.5K
$19.6K ¥131.0K
44.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sydney
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4 A$112
$45.57 ¥305
72.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.5 A$101
$36.05 ¥241
95.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 A$159
$75.4 ¥504
47.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 A$189
$79.0 ¥528
66.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sydney
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,514 A$3,598
$386 ¥2,577
552.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,732 A$2,478
$240 ¥1,601
622.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,889 A$6,996
$843 ¥5,637
479.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,039 A$4,349
$461 ¥3,083
558.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.2K A$18.9K
$4,590 ¥30.7K
187.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,117 A$11.6K
$2,279 ¥15.2K
256.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sydney
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,082 A$5,842
$1,060 ¥7,082
285.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
3.46
68.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sydney: October 5, 2026
Last update for China: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sydney $1.7K 54.5%
China $240 30.1% 86.2% $1.5K
Groceries & Markets
Sydney $380 12%
China $207 26.1% 45.5% $173
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney $303 9.6%
China $73 9.2% 75.8% $230
Eating Out
Sydney $299 9.4%
China $88 11.1% 70.6% $211
Clothing & Footwear
Sydney $176 5.6%
China $106 13.4% 39.8% $70
Getting Around
Sydney $174 5.5%
China $27 3.4% 84.6% $147
Sport & Entertainment
Sydney $110 3.5%
China $54 6.8% 50.6% $56
Accommodation & Living
Sydney $3K 48.1%
China $461 26.9% 84.8% $2.6K
Groceries & Markets
Sydney $876 13.9%
China $477 27.8% 45.6% $399
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sydney $331 5.2%
China $82 4.8% 75.3% $249
Eating Out
Sydney $1.1K 17.1%
China $283 16.5% 73.8% $798
Clothing & Footwear
Sydney $392 6.2%
China $236 13.8% 39.8% $156
Getting Around
Sydney $355 5.6%
China $54 3.2% 84.8% $301
Sport & Entertainment
Sydney $244 3.9%
China $123 7.2% 49.5% $120
Good to know
🇦🇺 Sydney
🇨🇳 China
Weather
Population
4,840,600
1,442,965,000
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Sydney China 8,950 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
- Sydney
- China
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Sydney
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,182
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Sydney
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,182
/mo nomad
Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Sydney
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,182
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Sydney
🇦🇺 Australia
$3,182
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
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