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

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 132.9% more expensive than China without rent, and 258.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 135.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 204.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.36 $20.36
$2.86 ¥19.51
611.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.3 $74.3
$23.89 ¥163
211.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.42 $11.42
$4.77 ¥32.61
139.41%
Cappuccino
$5.21 $5.21
$3.08 ¥21.02
69.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$0.44 ¥2.99
495.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.27 ¥1.84
696.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$0.93 ¥6.36
527.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$2.04 ¥13.96
251.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.78 ¥12.16
-39.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$1.60 ¥10.94
124.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$0.98 ¥6.70
380.61%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$1.55 ¥10.60
182.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.67 $12.67
$13.22 ¥90.3
-4.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.40 $12.40
$3.39 ¥23.13
265.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.39 $16.39
$10.52 ¥71.9
55.80%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$1.84 ¥12.59
180.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.30 ¥8.89
32.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$1.47 ¥10.03
204.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$1.15 ¥7.83
335.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$0.72 ¥4.94
304.17%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$0.94 ¥6.40
225.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.61 ¥4.16
254.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$0.53 ¥3.61
316.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.93 $9.93
$3.54 ¥24.15
180.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$11.89 ¥81.2
25.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$0.79 ¥5.39
141.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 $3.70
$1.69 ¥11.51
118.93%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$0.44 ¥2.98
479.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.0 $65.0
$20.98 ¥143
210.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 $3.69
$1.38 ¥9.39
167.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.35 ¥2.40
408.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.24 $30.24
$6.75 ¥46.13
348.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.16 ¥7.93
-18.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$19.7K ¥134.8K
50.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$16.9K ¥115.8K
55.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 $210
$50.3 ¥344
316.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.3 $58.3
$10.04 ¥68.5
480.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.1 $72.1
$11.39 ¥77.8
532.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.90 $45.90
$40.16 ¥274
14.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.20 $22.20
$14.68 ¥100
51.23%
Cinema Ticket
$14.25 $14.25
$6.21 ¥42.39
129.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,367 $1,367
$402 ¥2,746
239.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K $22.8K
$17.4K ¥119.1K
30.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$46.39 ¥317
14.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.96 $42.96
$32.60 ¥223
31.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 $89.4
$71.3 ¥487
25.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$74.8 ¥511
51.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,766 $1,766
$429 ¥2,931
311.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,460 $1,460
$261 ¥1,783
459.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 $2,865
$915 ¥6,253
212.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,360 $2,360
$545 ¥3,725
332.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,427 $3,427
$5,127 ¥35.0K
-33.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,624 $2,624
$2,614 ¥17.9K
0.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,306 $4,306
$1,061 ¥7,244
305.97%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for China: April 12, 2026

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The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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