Cost of living comparison

compared to

Nanjing vs. China Cost of Living Summary

Nanjing is 7.1% more expensive than China overall.

Restaurants
pay 4.9% less in Nanjing
Groceries
pay 5.1% more in Nanjing
Transportation
pay 11.2% more in Nanjing
Housing
pay 17.6% more in Nanjing
Childcare
pay 27.2% more in Nanjing
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.8% less in Nanjing
Clothing
pay 4.1% more in Nanjing

The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, groceries, and clothing in Nanjing are more expensive than in China. Expenses including entertainment and sports and restaurants are lower in Nanjing.

Nanjing vs. China Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Nanjing instead of China, you would:

pay 4.9% less for restaurants

 
China
Nanjing
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $2.90
CN¥20.50
$2.94
CN¥20.83
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.02
CN¥35.49
$4.91
CN¥34.72
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.47
CN¥3.36
$0.45
CN¥3.15

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pay 5.1% more for groceries

 
China
Nanjing
Bread
1 loaf
$1.63
CN¥11.52
$1.98
CN¥14.01
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.32
CN¥44.71
$4.68
CN¥33.13
Milk (1 gallon) $6.70
CN¥47.44
$8.49
CN¥60.08

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pay 11.2% more for transportation

 
China
Nanjing
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.34
CN¥30.68
$4.38
CN¥31.01
Monthly public transit pass $20.32
CN¥143.78
$28.04
CN¥198.39
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $19,143.98
CN¥135,449.43
$17,174.18
CN¥121,512.48

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pay 17.6% more for housing

 
China
Nanjing
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$11.18
CN¥79.08
$10.82
CN¥76.52
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $304.90
CN¥2,157.22
$421.67
CN¥2,983.45
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $195.65
CN¥1,384.25
$304.05
CN¥2,151.27

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pay 27.2% more for childcare

 
China
Nanjing
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $390.25
CN¥2,761.13
$462.65
CN¥3,273.40
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $15,493.57
CN¥109,621.66
$21,029.61
CN¥148,790.80

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pay 10.8% less for entertainment and sports

 
China
Nanjing
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.04
CN¥7.37
$0.84
CN¥5.95
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.84
CN¥20.07
$2.90
CN¥20.50
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.36
CN¥23.77
$3.50
CN¥24.80

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pay 4.1% more for clothing

 
China
Nanjing
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$45.93
CN¥324.95
$45.00
CN¥318.41
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$30.93
CN¥218.85
$33.01
CN¥233.55
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$71.26
CN¥504.18
$68.70
CN¥486.05

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025
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