Cost of Living Comparison Between China and India 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in India is 41.1% lower than in China (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in India is 44.8% lower than in China | |
| Rent Prices in India are 59.2% lower than in China | |
| Restaurant Prices in India are 34.6% lower than in China | |
| Groceries Prices in India are 40.0% lower than in China | |
| Local Purchasing Power in India is 26.0% lower than in China | |
Restaurants | China Edit |
India Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
$2.97 (¥20.00) |
$2.10 (₹200.00) |
-29.5 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
$22.29 (¥150.00) |
$10.48 (₹1,000.00) |
-53.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
$5.20 (¥35.00) |
$3.67 (₹350.00) |
-29.5 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
$1.04 (¥7.00) |
$1.89 (₹180.00) |
+81.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
$2.23 (¥15.00) |
$3.14 (₹300.00) |
+41.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
$2.97 (¥19.99) |
$1.71 (₹163.43) |
-42.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
$0.49 (¥3.32) |
$0.39 (₹37.43) |
-20.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
$0.29 (¥1.95) |
$0.15 (₹14.68) |
-46.8 % |
Markets | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
$1.78 (¥11.97) |
$0.65 (₹61.73) |
-63.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
$1.51 (¥10.13) |
$0.43 (₹40.60) |
-71.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
$0.43 (¥2.89) |
$0.29 (₹28.04) |
-31.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
$1.58 (¥10.64) |
$0.91 (₹86.79) |
-42.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
$6.02 (¥40.53) |
$2.13 (₹202.90) |
-64.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
$1.55 (¥10.45) |
$1.31 (₹124.54) |
-16.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
$5.11 (¥34.39) |
$2.36 (₹225.56) |
-53.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.83 (¥5.60) |
$0.89 (₹84.67) |
+6.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.58 (¥3.90) |
$0.30 (₹28.46) |
-48.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.68 (¥4.61) |
$0.45 (₹43.25) |
-33.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.58 (¥3.93) |
$0.22 (₹21.12) |
-62.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.34 (¥2.29) |
$0.16 (₹15.36) |
-52.7 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.41 (¥2.76) |
$0.18 (₹17.23) |
-56.0 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
$0.62 (¥4.17) |
$0.46 (₹43.62) |
-26.2 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
$0.57 (¥3.85) |
$0.30 (₹28.84) |
-47.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
$11.89 (¥80.00) |
$7.34 (₹700.00) |
-38.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
$0.87 (¥5.84) |
$1.66 (₹158.67) |
+91.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
$1.67 (¥11.24) |
$2.69 (₹256.46) |
+60.8 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
$3.72 (¥25.00) |
$5.03 (₹480.00) |
+35.4 % |
Transportation | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
$0.30 (¥2.00) |
$0.26 (₹25.00) |
-11.9 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
$22.29 (¥150.00) |
$8.38 (₹800.00) |
-62.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
$1.49 (¥10.00) |
$0.93 (₹89.00) |
-37.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
$0.57 (¥3.86) |
$0.42 (₹40.23) |
-26.6 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
$7.13 (¥48.00) |
$1.57 (₹150.00) |
-78.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
$1.24 (¥8.35) |
$1.09 (₹103.64) |
-12.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
$19,307.37 (¥129,900.00) |
$12,574.91 (₹1,200,000.00) |
-34.9 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
$17,055.81 (¥114,751.47) |
$20,038.01 (₹1,912,189.19) |
+17.5 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
$54.86 (¥369.12) |
$37.63 (₹3,590.71) |
-31.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
$8.57 (¥57.63) |
$3.56 (₹339.57) |
-58.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
$10.82 (¥72.80) |
$7.10 (₹677.07) |
-34.4 % |
Sports And Leisure | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
$39.91 (¥268.50) |
$14.47 (₹1,380.60) |
-63.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
$14.72 (¥99.05) |
$7.01 (₹669.37) |
-52.4 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
$6.69 (¥45.00) |
$3.14 (₹300.00) |
-53.0 % |
Childcare | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
$458.66 (¥3,085.89) |
$57.89 (₹5,524.45) |
-87.4 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
$19,539.61 (¥131,462.51) |
$1,693.50 (₹161,607.96) |
-91.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
$45.07 (¥303.25) |
$22.69 (₹2,165.05) |
-49.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
$35.53 (¥239.02) |
$24.35 (₹2,324.00) |
-31.4 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
$76.12 (¥512.16) |
$40.46 (₹3,860.68) |
-46.9 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
$77.91 (¥524.21) |
$30.12 (₹2,874.07) |
-61.3 % |
Rent Per Month | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
$392.98 (¥2,643.99) |
$146.03 (₹13,935.41) |
-62.8 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
$240.79 (¥1,620.02) |
$93.43 (₹8,915.38) |
-61.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
$849.84 (¥5,717.69) |
$342.12 (₹32,647.77) |
-59.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
$478.49 (¥3,219.27) |
$218.11 (₹20,814.16) |
-54.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
$441.82 (¥2,972.56) |
$114.63 (₹10,939.15) |
-74.1 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
$222.11 (¥1,494.36) |
$59.23 (₹5,651.90) |
-73.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | China Edit |
India Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
$1,075.79 (¥7,237.89) |
$439.43 (₹41,934.21) |
-59.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 3.48 | 8.92 | +156.5 % |
| Last update: | 29 August 2026 | 29 August 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 1118 | 2805 | |
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