Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu and Hangzhou

For one person, living is cheaper in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu: $708 a month against $985 in Hangzhou, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Hangzhou, China
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
🇨🇳 China
$708
/mo nomad
Hangzhou
🇨🇳 China
$985
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu and in Hangzhou

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

A single person spends $708 per month in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu vs $985 in Hangzhou, rent included.

  • Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu $708
  • Hangzhou $985

A couple spends around $1,174 per month in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu vs $1,533 in Hangzhou, rent included.

  • Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu $1,174
  • Hangzhou $1,533

A family of three spends $1,639 per month in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu vs $2,080 in Hangzhou, rent included.

  • Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu $1,639
  • Hangzhou $2,080

Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu is about 28% cheaper than Hangzhou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu and Hangzhou are more affordable than the global median – Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu 48% lower, Hangzhou 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.71 ¥24.64
$3.73 ¥24.78
-0.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.88 ¥172
$26.03 ¥173
-0.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.68 ¥31.13
$4.68 ¥31.10
-
Cappuccino
$3.18 ¥21.13
$3.48 ¥23.15
-8.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.93
$0.61 ¥4.05
-27.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ¥2.20
$0.33 ¥2.20
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ¥5.83
$1.22 ¥8.07
-27.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ¥9.88
$2.23 ¥14.80
-33.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 ¥12.09
$1.84 ¥12.20
-1.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 ¥7.88
$1.61 ¥10.71
-26.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 ¥5.79
$1.10 ¥7.32
-20.91%
Eggs
$1.99 ¥13.22
$2.11 ¥14.00
-5.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.03 ¥126
$19.06 ¥127
-0.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 ¥25.13
$3.74 ¥24.87
1.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.11 ¥40.60
$10.29 ¥68.4
-40.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 ¥15.16
$2.32 ¥15.41
-1.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 ¥9.29
$1.34 ¥8.91
4.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 ¥9.86
$1.52 ¥10.09
-2.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 ¥8.79
$1.53 ¥10.18
-13.73%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.12
$0.94 ¥6.22
-2.13%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 ¥6.28
$0.94 ¥6.26
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.43
$0.63 ¥4.17
6.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.85
$0.55 ¥3.65
5.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.68 ¥24.48
$4.02 ¥26.72
-8.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.30 ¥88.4
$13.38 ¥88.9
-0.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥5.42
$0.77 ¥5.11
6.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ¥10.13
$1.65 ¥10.96
-7.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.91
$0.47 ¥3.13
-38.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.68 ¥111
$17.73 ¥118
-5.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.96 ¥13.03
$1.96 ¥13.03
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ¥2.37
$0.38 ¥2.55
-5.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.05 ¥46.83
$6.98 ¥46.41
1.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥8.19
$1.32 ¥8.74
-6.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K ¥117.2K
$19.7K ¥131.1K
-10.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K ¥120.6K
$18.4K ¥122.2K
-1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$18.87 ¥125
$48.04 ¥319
-60.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.02 ¥66.6
$10.04 ¥66.7
-0.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.05 ¥73.4
$15.02 ¥99.8
-26.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.0 ¥392
$52.8 ¥351
11.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.56 ¥103
$20.00 ¥133
-22.20%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46 ¥49.57
$7.55 ¥50.2
-1.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ¥1,987
$577 ¥3,831
-48.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥117.9K
$35.8K ¥237.8K
-50.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.39 ¥302
$60.2 ¥400
-24.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.76 ¥277
$42.24 ¥281
-1.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.8 ¥397
$84.0 ¥558
-28.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.6 ¥396
$111 ¥735
-46.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$260 ¥1,725
$552 ¥3,669
-52.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 ¥1,140
$352 ¥2,337
-51.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$604 ¥4,011
$1,117 ¥7,422
-45.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 ¥2,453
$627 ¥4,164
-41.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,998 ¥19.9K
$7,668 ¥51.0K
-60.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,945 ¥12.9K
$3,819 ¥25.4K
-49.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Hangzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,582 ¥10.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
3.5
-

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

Last update for Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu: October 25, 2026

Last update for Hangzhou: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
$216
Hangzhou
$235 8.8% $19
Accommodation & Living
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
$172
Hangzhou
$352 105% $180
Clothing & Footwear
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
$93
Hangzhou
$134 43.8% $41
Eating Out
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
$92
Hangzhou
$100 8.3% $7.6
Sport & Entertainment
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
$74
Hangzhou
$68 8.2% $6
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
$40
Hangzhou
$73 83% $33
Getting Around
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
$22
Hangzhou
$23 8.9% $1.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu versus $552 in Hangzhou. 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 $26 in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu versus $26 in Hangzhou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $235 – making Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
🇨🇳 Hangzhou
🕒 Local time
14:16 2:16 PM
14:16 2:16 PM
Same time as Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
831,113
10,360,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 6.64 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.42 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu Hangzhou 160 km
From you
  • Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
  • Hangzhou

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
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu vs Hangzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu cheaper than Hangzhou?
Yes – Hangzhou is pricier by about 39%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,063 per month in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu and $1,477 in Hangzhou. 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 Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $260 there versus $552 in Hangzhou.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu and in Hangzhou?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Hangzhou, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu or Hangzhou more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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