Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and China Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and China

😐 Solo nomad: United Kingdom is 106.1% more expensive than China without rent, and 217.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United Kingdom is 119.6% more expensive than China without rent, and 170.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Kingdom
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.18 £15.12
$2.82 ¥19.51
615.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.4 £66.2
$23.62 ¥163
274.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.31 £7.72
$4.97 ¥34.35
107.44%
Cappuccino
$4.61 £3.46
$3.14 ¥21.66
46.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 £1.80
$0.44 ¥3.07
445.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 £1.26
$0.27 ¥1.84
525.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.85 £5.13
$0.93 ¥6.40
636.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.35 £4.76
$2.08 ¥14.37
205.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Kingdom
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 £1.26
$1.84 ¥12.70
-8.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 £1.29
$1.62 ¥11.17
6.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 £1.68
$0.96 ¥6.62
133.33%
Eggs
$3.99 £2.99
$1.56 ¥10.76
155.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.64 £7.22
$13.18 ¥91.1
-26.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.73 £6.54
$3.21 ¥22.15
171.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.38 £10.77
$10.89 ¥75.3
32.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 £2.30
$1.77 ¥12.20
73.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 £1.27
$1.25 ¥8.64
36.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 £2.10
$1.52 ¥10.53
84.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.56 £2.67
$1.15 ¥7.95
209.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 £1.26
$0.76 ¥5.28
121.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 £1.20
$0.89 ¥6.14
79.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 £0.88
$0.61 ¥4.24
91.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 £1.12
$0.54 ¥3.72
175.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.98 £14.96
$3.38 ¥23.33
491.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.66 £7.98
$11.67 ¥80.6
-8.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 £2.10
$0.78 ¥5.39
260.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 £2.57
$1.67 ¥11.54
105.39%
🚌 Getting Around
United Kingdom
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.27 £2.45
$0.43 ¥2.98
660.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.2 £70.6
$20.93 ¥145
350.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 £4.00
$1.41 ¥9.74
278.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 £1.20
$0.35 ¥2.44
357.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.11 £20.31
$6.48 ¥44.78
318.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 £1.49
$1.16 ¥8.04
71.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K £28.9K
$19.3K ¥133.1K
100.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K £30.1K
$17.0K ¥117.4K
136.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Kingdom
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$319 £239
$51.3 ¥354
523.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.41 £13.04
$9.84 ¥68.0
76.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.06 £31.50
$11.49 ¥79.4
266.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Kingdom
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.02 £34.47
$40.28 ¥278
14.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.18 £12.12
$14.78 ¥102
9.47%
Cinema Ticket
$13.72 £10.27
$6.41 ¥44.30
114.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Kingdom
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,716 £1,285
$403 ¥2,787
325.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.2K £15.9K
$17.9K ¥123.5K
18.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Kingdom
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7 £68.0
$45.91 ¥317
97.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.09 £33.02
$32.39 ¥224
36.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 £76.2
$71.2 ¥492
42.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 £78.9
$74.0 ¥511
42.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Kingdom
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,418 £1,062
$436 ¥3,013
225.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 £840
$254 ¥1,752
342.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,313 £1,732
$900 ¥6,219
157.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,807 £1,353
$548 ¥3,787
229.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,834 £4,370
$5,140 ¥35.5K
13.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,528 £3,392
$2,676 ¥18.5K
69.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Kingdom
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,295 £2,468
$1,024 ¥7,079
221.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.75
4.06
41.63%

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

Last update for United Kingdom: March 3, 2026

Last update for China: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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