Town in Yunnan, China
Cost of living in Lijiang
How much a month costs in Lijiang
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $745–1,190 (¥5,000–8,000).
Prices in Lijiang
Typical 2026 ranges in CNY, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | CNY | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | ¥1,800–3,500 | $268–521 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | ¥1,000–2,200 | $149–328 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | ¥40–90 | $6.0–13.4 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | ¥200–500 | $30–74 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | ¥15–30 | $2.2–4.5 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | ¥50–120 | $7.4–17.9 |
| Cappuccino | ¥22–38 | $3.3–5.7 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | ¥20–45 | $3.0–6.7 |
| 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 | ||
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | ¥50–100 | $7.4–14.9 |
Value for money: 91/100
A value score of 91/100 means Lijiang gives more quality of life per dollar than 90% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 67/100. It's the 3rd 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 Lijiang?
About $387–596 on a lean budget, $745–1,190 for a comfortable month and $1,490–2,980 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Lijiang?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ¥1,800–3,500 ($268–521) a month in the center and ¥1,000–2,200 ($149–328) outside it.
How much does food cost in Lijiang?
A local meal is ¥15–30 ($2.2–4.5); 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 Lijiang
Going to Lijiang solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Lijiang 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.