Cost of living comparison
China is 50.4% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 75.3% less in China
- Groceries
-
pay 45.0% less in China
- Transportation
-
pay 40.0% less in China
- Housing
-
pay 80.3% less in China
- Childcare
-
pay 41.9% less in China
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 52.2% less in China
- Clothing
-
pay 18.4% less in China
Expenses including housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, groceries, childcare, and transportation are lower in China.
If you lived in China instead of United States, you would:
pay 75.3% less for restaurants
|
United States
|
China
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$2.85
CN¥20.84
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$5.07
CN¥36.97
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$0.49
CN¥3.57
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$0.30
CN¥2.19
|
|
pay 45.0% less for groceries
|
United States
|
China
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$1.59
CN¥11.62
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$5.85
CN¥42.70
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$6.86
CN¥50.07
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$1.60
CN¥11.65
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$1.54
CN¥11.25
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$0.76
CN¥5.57
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$0.57
CN¥4.18
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$0.65
CN¥4.77
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$0.52
CN¥3.82
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$0.32
CN¥2.34
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$0.40
CN¥2.92
|
|
pay 40.0% less for transportation
|
United States
|
China
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$4.44
CN¥32.44
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$22.47
CN¥164.01
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$19,071.53
CN¥139,199.31
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$3.97
CN¥29.01
|
|
pay 80.3% less for housing
|
United States
|
China
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$11.70
CN¥85.36
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$328.33
CN¥2,396.42
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$205.78
CN¥1,501.95
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$40.46
CN¥295.30
|
|
pay 41.9% less for childcare
|
United States
|
China
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$459.70
CN¥3,355.24
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$18,318.08
CN¥133,700.00
|
|
pay 52.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
China
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$1.09
CN¥7.96
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$3.07
CN¥22.39
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$3.23
CN¥23.60
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$41.41
CN¥302.23
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$5.93
CN¥43.25
|
|
pay 18.4% less for clothing
|
United States
|
China
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$48.23
CN¥351.99
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$31.67
CN¥231.16
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$72.53
CN¥529.36
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$75.53
CN¥551.31
|
|
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