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

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 131.9% more expensive than China without rent, and 252% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 141.8% more expensive than China without rent, and 203.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$2.77 ¥19.31
629.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.7 $75.7
$24.14 ¥169
213.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.47 $11.47
$4.75 ¥33.15
141.47%
Cappuccino
$5.13 $5.13
$3.02 ¥21.06
69.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$0.44 ¥3.06
493.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.27 ¥1.87
692.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 $6.17
$0.96 ¥6.67
542.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 $7.07
$2.04 ¥14.21
246.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.75 ¥12.21
-38.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.74 $3.74
$1.69 ¥11.79
121.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$0.98 ¥6.85
366.33%
Eggs
$4.20 $4.20
$1.60 ¥11.19
162.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.02 $13.02
$13.34 ¥93.1
-2.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.18 $12.18
$3.27 ¥22.82
272.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.14 $16.14
$10.63 ¥74.2
51.83%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$1.74 ¥12.16
205.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.26 ¥8.76
36.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$1.45 ¥10.13
216.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$1.19 ¥8.28
316.81%
Potato (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$0.73 ¥5.08
310.96%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$0.86 ¥5.99
253.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$0.62 ¥4.30
251.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.53 ¥3.71
313.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16 $10.16
$3.44 ¥24.03
195.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$11.63 ¥81.2
30.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.84 ¥5.88
136.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 $3.71
$1.62 ¥11.30
129.01%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.44 ¥3.07
463.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.9 $63.9
$20.71 ¥145
208.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 $3.69
$1.42 ¥9.91
159.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.33 ¥2.27
433.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.06 $30.06
$6.51 ¥45.42
361.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.17 ¥8.19
-17.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$19.2K ¥133.9K
57.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$16.6K ¥116.1K
58.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$51.4 ¥359
303.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.0 $57.0
$9.63 ¥67.2
492.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 $71.5
$11.22 ¥78.3
537.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.91 $45.91
$39.09 ¥273
17.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 $22.25
$14.70 ¥103
51.36%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$6.14 ¥42.89
130.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,385 $1,385
$416 ¥2,905
232.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.2K $22.2K
$17.9K ¥125.0K
24.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1 $52.1
$45.24 ¥316
15.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53 $42.53
$32.59 ¥228
30.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.9 $89.9
$73.0 ¥509
23.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$72.8 ¥508
57.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,743 $1,743
$432 ¥3,018
303.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,422 $1,422
$253 ¥1,767
461.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,821 $2,821
$923 ¥6,441
205.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,370 $2,370
$546 ¥3,811
334.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,338 $3,338
$5,324 ¥37.2K
-37.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,615 $2,615
$2,784 ¥19.4K
-6.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,230 $4,230
$1,037 ¥7,240
307.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
4.06
60.34%

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

Last update for United States: January 13, 2026

Last update for China: January 11, 2026

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