City in Yunnan, China
Cost of living in Kunming
How much a month costs in Kunming
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $968–1,640 (¥6,500–11,000).
Prices in Kunming
Typical 2026 ranges in CNY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CNY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ¥2,200–4,500 | $328–670 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ¥1,200–2,500 | $179–372 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ¥40–90 | $6.0–13.4 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥200–450 | $30–67 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥12–25 | $1.8–3.7 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥50–120 | $7.4–17.9 |
| Cappuccino | ¥20–35 | $3.0–5.2 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥12–30 | $1.8–4.5 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | ¥2–8 | $0.3–1.2 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | ¥12–22 | $1.8–3.3 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | ¥150–400 | $22–60 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥30–100 | $4.5–14.9 |
Value for money: 79/100
A value score of 79/100 means Kunming gives more quality of life per dollar than 78% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 69/100. It's the 15th 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 Kunming
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 |
| Dali | China | $819–1,340 |
| Zhangjiajie | China | $819–1,270 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Kunming?
About $477–670 on a lean budget, $968–1,640 for a comfortable month and $2,230–4,470 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Kunming?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ¥2,200–4,500 ($328–670) a month in the center and ¥1,200–2,500 ($179–372) outside it.
How much does food cost in Kunming?
A local meal is ¥12–25 ($1.8–3.7); a mid-range restaurant is ¥50–120 ($7.4–17.9) per person.
Is China expensive?
Prices in China are about 47% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Kunming
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- China Railway 12306
- National Immigration Administration
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.