City in Guangxi, China
Cost of living in Guilin
How much a month costs in Guilin
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $670–1,040 (¥4,500–7,000).
Prices in Guilin
Typical 2026 ranges in CNY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CNY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ¥1,500–2,800 | $223–417 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ¥1,000–1,800 | $149–268 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ¥35–80 | $5.2–11.9 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥180–400 | $27–60 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥12–25 | $1.8–3.7 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥45–100 | $6.7–14.9 |
| Cappuccino | ¥18–30 | $2.7–4.5 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥10–30 | $1.5–4.5 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ¥2–3 | $0.30–0.45 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ¥12–22 | $1.8–3.3 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | ¥100–300 | $15–45 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥50–100 | $7.4–14.9 |
Value for money: 93/100
A value score of 93/100 means Guilin gives more quality of life per dollar than 92% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 62/100. It's the 1st 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 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Guilin?
About $328–521 on a lean budget, $670–1,040 for a comfortable month and $1,490–2,680 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Guilin?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ¥1,500–2,800 ($223–417) a month in the center and ¥1,000–1,800 ($149–268) outside it.
How much does food cost in Guilin?
A local meal is ¥12–25 ($1.8–3.7); a mid-range restaurant is ¥45–100 ($6.7–14.9) per person.
Is China expensive?
Prices in China are about 47% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Guilin
Going to Guilin solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Guilin 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
- 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.