East Asia

Cost of living in China

Capital: BeijingChinese, CantoneseUpdated October 2026

47%of US price level

Is China expensive?

Prices in China are about 47% of US price levels (World Bank PPP). The most affordable place we cover is Guilin, at about $670–1,040 a month for a comfortable life.

Cost of living in China, by place

One person, rent included. SoloSquare estimates in US$.

Place	Month, comfortable	1-bed rent, center	Local meal	Value
Guilin	$670–1,040	$223–417	$1.8–3.7	93/100
Yangshuo	$670–1,040	$223–447	$1.8–3.7	93/100
Lijiang	$745–1,190	$268–521	$2.2–4.5	91/100
Pingyao	$745–1,270	—	$1.8–3.7	86/100
Kashgar	$745–1,270	—	$1.5–3.7	68/100
Zhangjiajie	$819–1,270	—	$2.2–4.5	82/100
Harbin	$819–1,270	$268–521	$2.2–4.5	82/100
Dali	$819–1,340	$223–521	$1.8–3.7	87/100
Shangri-La	$819–1,340	—	$3.0–5.2	85/100
Dunhuang	$819–1,340	—	$2.2–4.5	80/100
Changsha	$894–1,490	$298–596	$1.8–3.7	74/100
Xi'an	$968–1,490	$372–670	$2.2–4.5	71/100
Chongqing	$968–1,490	$417–819	$2.2–4.5	76/100
Huangshan	$968–1,490	—	$2.2–4.5	77/100
Kunming	$968–1,640	$328–670	$1.8–3.7	79/100
Chengdu	$1,040–1,640	$447–894	$2.2–5.2	73/100
Suzhou	$1,040–1,640	$447–894	$2.2–5.2	68/100
Jiuzhaigou	$1,040–1,640	—	$3.0–5.2	69/100
Wuhan	$1,040–1,640	$372–670	$2.2–4.5	66/100
Sanya	$1,040–1,790	$372–745	$2.2–4.5	73/100
Qingdao	$1,120–1,790	$372–819	$2.2–4.5	65/100
Tianjin	$1,120–1,790	$447–819	$2.2–4.5	62/100
Xiamen	$1,190–2,090	$447–894	$2.2–4.5	62/100
Nanjing	$1,190–2,090	$447–968	$2.2–4.5	55/100
Guangzhou	$1,270–2,090	$596–1,190	$2.7–5.2	60/100
Hangzhou	$1,270–2,090	$596–1,190	$2.7–5.2	54/100
Shenzhen	$1,490–2,380	$819–1,410	$3–6	50/100
Lhasa	$1,490–2,380	—	$3–6	38/100
Beijing	$1,640–2,680	$819–1,490	$3.0–6.7	34/100
Shanghai	$1,940–3,280	$1,040–2,090	$3.0–6.7	22/100

Cost of living by place

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.