Cost of Living in China

If you've ever considered moving to China, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in China?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in China and whether the reported $1560 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $1057.0.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
China
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

3.88 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

27.69 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

4.98 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

1.0 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.77 $

Cappuccino (regular)

3.6 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

0.46 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.29 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.95 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

1.72 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

0.97 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

1.87 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

12.62 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

3.87 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

12.03 $

Apples (1 lb)

1.77 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.41 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.6 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.2 $

Potato (1 lb)

0.77 $

Onion (1 lb)

0.92 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.64 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.59 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

11.07 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

0.79 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.87 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

3.46 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.42 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

20.76 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

1.66 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

0.35 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

6.09 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.15 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

20626.55 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

18930.23 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

50.63 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.02 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

12.84 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

40.81 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

14.31 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

6.64 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

590.79 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

20750.92 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

56.17 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

32.76 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

78.72 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

82.02 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

659.21 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

387.73 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

1509.5 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

806.58 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

9806.65 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

5493.51 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

1057.0 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

5.17 %

China

How Safe Is China for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in China

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Overall, China is safe to travel to, but crime rates vary depending on the area of the country. Some cities are very safe, while in some there are areas that are best avoided, but in general, you should be wary of petty theft and look closely after your belongings which will minimize the chances of anything going wrong.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Taxis can be unsafe in China, because it is filled with unlicensed taxi vehicles that don't use meters and might try to rip you off. Always negotiate everything in advance and never pay upfront. Transportation stations are also risky, as they are known to attract criminals, often at the ticket booth, as do overnight train cars and Trans-Siberian express lines.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

There is high risk of pickpockets in China. They frequently operate in packs by having one member distract you while another steals your wallet or purse.Take extreme caution when in China, be twice as vigilant in Chine as you'd be anywhere else - don‘t leave anything valuable in your back pockets. If you do encounter a pickpocket, be very loud in order to attract attention and, hopefully, the police.Thieves in China also tend to operate in restaurants, so keep your bag on your lap.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

There are threats from earthquakes happening, but they are typical for non-tourist areas. In southern parts of China, especially around Yangtze river, there's a risk of flooding or landslides due to heavy rain during the rainy season. Other risks are typhoons along the southern and eastern coastlines, and extremely high air pollution.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

China on the whole is extremely safe. Crime against foreigners is rare, and violent crime, and incidents such as mugging and rape, against foreigners is extremely rare.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in China. Even though foreigners haven’t been targeted, these attacks may be executed in places frequented by visitors. You should take particular care during national holidays.Most attacks take place in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region and, according to the Chinese government, are carried out by Uyghur separatists with possible links to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

Like in any other tourist destination, China is a place where there it's likely you'll get scammed or someone will try to scam you. It is actually extremely likely. Have your wits with you and double check your change or try to use small bills.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

China is safe for solo women travelers. Just use your common sense and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid wearing purses and do not walk alone or ride in taxis at night.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

Visa is required when traveling to China. Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the expiry date of your visa. Citizens from 51 nations (among which are US, Brazil, Canada, France, the UK and Australia) can stay in Beijing for 72 hours without a visa as long as it is a layover, they are traveling outside of China, and have a ticket out of Beijing. The similar thing applies for Shanghai. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

Renminbi or "yuan" is the official currency in China. ATMs are widely used, but credit cards are not as commonly accepted and used as you would expect.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

The climate in China varies depending on the area of the country, since it is massive. Rainy season generally lasts from February to September, and July and August are scorching hot. The best months to visit China are September and October. Places like Xinjiang, which are usually extremely hot in the summer and still a bit too cold in spring, are in perfect season.

flight_takeoff

Airports

Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest airport by passenger traffic in China and the second busiest airport in the world. Other major airports are located in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to China, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in China with other countries

Cost of living in countries