Cost of Living Comparison Between China and United States

For major cities in those countries you get more relevant data by specifying cities.

City in China:
City in United States:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in United States is 120.2% higher than in China (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 157.6% higher than in China
Rent Prices in United States are 292.7% higher than in China
Restaurant Prices in United States are 229.9% higher than in China
Groceries Prices in United States are 113.3% higher than in China
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 81.4% higher than in China

Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units

Restaurants	China Edit	United States Edit	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	20.00 ¥ (2.78 $)	143.67 ¥ (20.00 $)	+618.4 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	170.00 ¥ (23.66 $)	538.78 ¥ (75.00 $)	+216.9 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	35.00 ¥ (4.87 $)	82.61 ¥ (11.50 $)	+136.0 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	7.00 ¥ (0.97 $)	43.10 ¥ (6.00 $)	+515.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	15.00 ¥ (2.09 $)	50.29 ¥ (7.00 $)	+235.2 %
Cappuccino (regular)	21.95 ¥ (3.06 $)	37.65 ¥ (5.24 $)	+71.5 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	3.29 ¥ (0.46 $)	18.43 ¥ (2.56 $)	+459.3 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.05 ¥ (0.28 $)	15.00 ¥ (2.09 $)	+633.1 %
Markets	China Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	49.05 ¥ (6.83 $)	28.82 ¥ (4.01 $)	-41.3 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	10.72 ¥ (1.49 $)	23.72 ¥ (3.30 $)	+121.3 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	3.07 ¥ (0.43 $)	15.05 ¥ (2.09 $)	+389.4 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	11.46 ¥ (1.60 $)	30.95 ¥ (4.31 $)	+170.1 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	42.66 ¥ (5.94 $)	42.07 ¥ (5.86 $)	-1.4 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	10.73 ¥ (1.49 $)	39.77 ¥ (5.54 $)	+270.6 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	34.90 ¥ (4.86 $)	53.22 ¥ (7.41 $)	+52.5 %
Apples (1 lb)	5.84 ¥ (0.81 $)	17.20 ¥ (2.39 $)	+194.6 %
Banana (1 lb)	4.15 ¥ (0.58 $)	5.47 ¥ (0.76 $)	+31.9 %
Oranges (1 lb)	4.81 ¥ (0.67 $)	14.66 ¥ (2.04 $)	+204.7 %
Tomato (1 lb)	3.82 ¥ (0.53 $)	16.02 ¥ (2.23 $)	+319.9 %
Potato (1 lb)	2.41 ¥ (0.34 $)	9.57 ¥ (1.33 $)	+296.9 %
Onion (1 lb)	2.93 ¥ (0.41 $)	10.02 ¥ (1.39 $)	+241.6 %
Lettuce (1 head)	4.25 ¥ (0.59 $)	15.83 ¥ (2.20 $)	+272.4 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	3.95 ¥ (0.55 $)	16.05 ¥ (2.23 $)	+306.4 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	80.00 ¥ (11.14 $)	107.76 ¥ (15.00 $)	+34.7 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	5.83 ¥ (0.81 $)	14.08 ¥ (1.96 $)	+141.3 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	11.76 ¥ (1.64 $)	25.87 ¥ (3.60 $)	+119.9 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	25.00 ¥ (3.48 $)	71.84 ¥ (10.00 $)	+187.3 %
Transportation	China Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.00 ¥ (0.42 $)	17.96 ¥ (2.50 $)	+498.6 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	150.00 ¥ (20.88 $)	466.94 ¥ (65.00 $)	+211.3 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	10.00 ¥ (1.39 $)	26.94 ¥ (3.75 $)	+169.4 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	4.02 ¥ (0.56 $)	20.11 ¥ (2.80 $)	+399.9 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	48.00 ¥ (6.68 $)	215.51 ¥ (30.00 $)	+349.0 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	31.20 ¥ (4.34 $)	25.06 ¥ (3.49 $)	-19.7 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	140,000.00 ¥ (19,488.56 $)	215,511.00 ¥ (30,000.00 $)	+53.9 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	121,049.42 ¥ (16,850.57 $)	186,708.24 ¥ (25,990.54 $)	+54.2 %
Utilities (Monthly)	China Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	366.68 ¥ (51.04 $)	1,497.41 ¥ (208.45 $)	+308.4 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	71.01 ¥ (9.88 $)	411.99 ¥ (57.35 $)	+480.2 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	81.31 ¥ (11.32 $)	515.87 ¥ (71.81 $)	+534.5 %
Sports And Leisure	China Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	286.46 ¥ (39.88 $)	330.63 ¥ (46.02 $)	+15.4 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	106.28 ¥ (14.79 $)	157.12 ¥ (21.87 $)	+47.8 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	45.00 ¥ (6.26 $)	100.57 ¥ (14.00 $)	+123.5 %
Childcare	China Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	2,945.81 ¥ (410.07 $)	9,862.92 ¥ (1,372.96 $)	+234.8 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	126,255.45 ¥ (17,575.27 $)	162,459.22 ¥ (22,614.98 $)	+28.7 %
Clothing And Shoes	China Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	330.06 ¥ (45.95 $)	375.19 ¥ (52.23 $)	+13.7 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	236.24 ¥ (32.89 $)	306.13 ¥ (42.61 $)	+29.6 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	517.25 ¥ (72.00 $)	646.28 ¥ (89.96 $)	+24.9 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	532.62 ¥ (74.14 $)	817.31 ¥ (113.77 $)	+53.5 %
Rent Per Month	China Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	3,134.88 ¥ (436.39 $)	12,451.04 ¥ (1,733.24 $)	+297.2 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,848.13 ¥ (257.27 $)	10,311.55 ¥ (1,435.41 $)	+457.9 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	6,571.99 ¥ (914.85 $)	20,662.09 ¥ (2,876.25 $)	+214.4 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	3,887.70 ¥ (541.18 $)	17,223.34 ¥ (2,397.56 $)	+343.0 %
Buy Apartment Price	China Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	4,213.74 ¥ (586.57 $)	2,148.48 ¥ (299.08 $)	-49.0 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	2,012.96 ¥ (280.21 $)	1,808.69 ¥ (251.78 $)	-10.1 %
Salaries And Financing	China Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	6,646.73 ¥ (925.25 $)	31,060.78 ¥ (4,323.79 $)	+367.3 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	4.06	6.51	+60.2 %
Last update:	9 June 2025	9 June 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	1356	11265

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