City, China
Cost of living in Chongqing
How much a month costs in Chongqing
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $968–1,490 (¥6,500–10,000).
Prices in Chongqing
Typical 2026 ranges in CNY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CNY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ¥2,800–5,500 | $417–819 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ¥1,600–3,200 | $238–477 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ¥40–90 | $6.0–13.4 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥220–500 | $33–74 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥15–30 | $2.2–4.5 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥60–140 | $9–21 |
| Cappuccino | ¥20–35 | $3.0–5.2 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥12–35 | $1.8–5.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ¥2–8 | $0.3–1.2 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ¥13–25 | $1.9–3.7 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | ¥150–450 | $22–67 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥50–120 | $7.4–17.9 |
Value for money: 76/100
A value score of 76/100 means Chongqing gives more quality of life per dollar than 75% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 62/100. It's the 13th most affordable of 30 places we cover in China.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across China
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Guilin | $670–1,040 | 93/100 |
| Yangshuo | $670–1,040 | 93/100 |
| Lijiang | $745–1,190 | 91/100 |
| Pingyao | $745–1,270 | 86/100 |
| Kashgar | $745–1,270 | 68/100 |
| Zhangjiajie | $819–1,270 | 82/100 |
| Harbin | $819–1,270 | 82/100 |
| Dali | $819–1,340 | 87/100 |
| Shangri-La | $819–1,340 | 85/100 |
| Dunhuang | $819–1,340 | 80/100 |
| Changsha | $894–1,490 | 74/100 |
| Xi'an | $968–1,490 | 71/100 |
| Chongqing | $968–1,490 | 76/100 |
| Huangshan | $968–1,490 | 77/100 |
| Kunming | $968–1,640 | 79/100 |
| Chengdu | $1,040–1,640 | 73/100 |
| Suzhou | $1,040–1,640 | 68/100 |
| Jiuzhaigou | $1,040–1,640 | 69/100 |
| Wuhan | $1,040–1,640 | 66/100 |
| Sanya | $1,040–1,790 | 73/100 |
| Qingdao | $1,120–1,790 | 65/100 |
| Tianjin | $1,120–1,790 | 62/100 |
| Xiamen | $1,190–2,090 | 62/100 |
| Nanjing | $1,190–2,090 | 55/100 |
| Guangzhou | $1,270–2,090 | 60/100 |
| Hangzhou | $1,270–2,090 | 54/100 |
| Shenzhen | $1,490–2,380 | 50/100 |
| Lhasa | $1,490–2,380 | 38/100 |
| Beijing | $1,640–2,680 | 34/100 |
| Shanghai | $1,940–3,280 | 22/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Chongqing
Similar safety, lower cost, in East Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Guilin | China | $670–1,040 |
| Yangshuo | China | $670–1,040 |
| Lijiang | China | $745–1,190 |
| Zhangjiajie | China | $819–1,270 |
| Harbin | China | $819–1,270 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Chongqing?
About $447–670 on a lean budget, $968–1,490 for a comfortable month and $2,090–3,870 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Chongqing?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ¥2,800–5,500 ($417–819) a month in the center and ¥1,600–3,200 ($238–477) outside it.
How much does food cost in Chongqing?
A local meal is ¥15–30 ($2.2–4.5); a mid-range restaurant is ¥60–140 ($9–21) per person.
Is China expensive?
Prices in China are about 47% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Chongqing
Going to Chongqing solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Chongqing meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Chongqing Rail Transit
- National Immigration Administration
- China Railway 12306
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.