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 118.4% higher than in China (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in United States is 154.9% higher than in China
Rent Prices in United States are 284.3% higher than in China
Restaurant Prices in United States are 224.2% higher than in China
Groceries Prices in United States are 113.0% higher than in China
Local Purchasing Power in United States is 81.5% 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 $)	144.07 ¥ (20.00 $)	+620.3 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	180.00 ¥ (24.99 $)	540.25 ¥ (75.00 $)	+200.1 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	35.00 ¥ (4.86 $)	82.84 ¥ (11.50 $)	+136.7 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	7.00 ¥ (0.97 $)	43.22 ¥ (6.00 $)	+517.4 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	15.00 ¥ (2.08 $)	50.42 ¥ (7.00 $)	+236.2 %
Cappuccino (regular)	22.14 ¥ (3.07 $)	37.72 ¥ (5.24 $)	+70.4 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	3.29 ¥ (0.46 $)	18.45 ¥ (2.56 $)	+460.6 %
Water (12 oz small bottle)	2.07 ¥ (0.29 $)	15.05 ¥ (2.09 $)	+627.0 %
Markets	China Edit	United States Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	49.01 ¥ (6.80 $)	28.85 ¥ (4.00 $)	-41.1 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	10.80 ¥ (1.50 $)	23.72 ¥ (3.29 $)	+119.6 %
Rice (white), (1 lb)	3.06 ¥ (0.42 $)	15.05 ¥ (2.09 $)	+392.0 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	11.56 ¥ (1.60 $)	30.79 ¥ (4.27 $)	+166.4 %
Local Cheese (1 lb)	43.02 ¥ (5.97 $)	42.26 ¥ (5.87 $)	-1.8 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	10.69 ¥ (1.48 $)	39.84 ¥ (5.53 $)	+272.5 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	34.97 ¥ (4.86 $)	53.26 ¥ (7.39 $)	+52.3 %
Apples (1 lb)	5.84 ¥ (0.81 $)	17.26 ¥ (2.40 $)	+195.4 %
Banana (1 lb)	4.15 ¥ (0.58 $)	5.49 ¥ (0.76 $)	+32.3 %
Oranges (1 lb)	4.84 ¥ (0.67 $)	14.70 ¥ (2.04 $)	+203.7 %
Tomato (1 lb)	3.79 ¥ (0.53 $)	16.03 ¥ (2.23 $)	+322.9 %
Potato (1 lb)	2.43 ¥ (0.34 $)	9.60 ¥ (1.33 $)	+295.5 %
Onion (1 lb)	2.94 ¥ (0.41 $)	10.05 ¥ (1.39 $)	+241.9 %
Lettuce (1 head)	4.31 ¥ (0.60 $)	15.85 ¥ (2.20 $)	+268.1 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	3.98 ¥ (0.55 $)	16.06 ¥ (2.23 $)	+303.2 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	80.00 ¥ (11.11 $)	108.05 ¥ (15.00 $)	+35.1 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	5.81 ¥ (0.81 $)	14.08 ¥ (1.95 $)	+142.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	11.80 ¥ (1.64 $)	25.91 ¥ (3.60 $)	+119.6 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	25.00 ¥ (3.47 $)	72.03 ¥ (10.00 $)	+188.1 %
Transportation	China Edit	United States Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	3.00 ¥ (0.42 $)	18.01 ¥ (2.50 $)	+500.3 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	150.00 ¥ (20.82 $)	468.21 ¥ (65.00 $)	+212.1 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	10.00 ¥ (1.39 $)	27.01 ¥ (3.75 $)	+170.1 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	4.02 ¥ (0.56 $)	20.17 ¥ (2.80 $)	+401.3 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	48.00 ¥ (6.66 $)	216.10 ¥ (30.00 $)	+350.2 %
Gasoline (1 gallon)	31.20 ¥ (4.33 $)	25.22 ¥ (3.50 $)	-19.1 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	140,000.00 ¥ (19,435.54 $)	216,099.00 ¥ (30,000.00 $)	+54.4 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	120,763.26 ¥ (16,764.99 $)	187,053.29 ¥ (25,967.72 $)	+54.9 %
Utilities (Monthly)	China Edit	United States Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	364.72 ¥ (50.63 $)	1,502.07 ¥ (208.52 $)	+311.8 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data	71.89 ¥ (9.98 $)	412.39 ¥ (57.25 $)	+473.7 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	82.50 ¥ (11.45 $)	515.84 ¥ (71.61 $)	+525.3 %
Sports And Leisure	China Edit	United States Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	292.32 ¥ (40.58 $)	332.69 ¥ (46.19 $)	+13.8 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	107.56 ¥ (14.93 $)	157.97 ¥ (21.93 $)	+46.9 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	45.00 ¥ (6.25 $)	103.48 ¥ (14.36 $)	+129.9 %
Childcare	China Edit	United States Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	2,967.27 ¥ (411.93 $)	9,880.67 ¥ (1,371.69 $)	+233.0 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	128,586.39 ¥ (17,851.04 $)	162,537.13 ¥ (22,564.26 $)	+26.4 %
Clothing And Shoes	China Edit	United States Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	335.05 ¥ (46.51 $)	375.44 ¥ (52.12 $)	+12.1 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	234.04 ¥ (32.49 $)	306.18 ¥ (42.51 $)	+30.8 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	520.86 ¥ (72.31 $)	647.21 ¥ (89.85 $)	+24.3 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	542.64 ¥ (75.33 $)	816.95 ¥ (113.41 $)	+50.6 %
Rent Per Month	China Edit	United States Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	3,162.99 ¥ (439.10 $)	12,566.24 ¥ (1,744.51 $)	+297.3 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	1,918.11 ¥ (266.28 $)	10,360.05 ¥ (1,438.24 $)	+440.1 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	6,851.55 ¥ (951.17 $)	20,865.53 ¥ (2,896.66 $)	+204.5 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	3,967.13 ¥ (550.74 $)	17,308.52 ¥ (2,402.86 $)	+336.3 %
Buy Apartment Price	China Edit	United States Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	4,443.78 ¥ (616.91 $)	2,157.92 ¥ (299.57 $)	-51.4 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	2,073.13 ¥ (287.80 $)	1,814.75 ¥ (251.93 $)	-12.5 %
Salaries And Financing	China Edit	United States Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	6,737.52 ¥ (935.34 $)	31,164.03 ¥ (4,326.35 $)	+362.5 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	4.09	6.51	+59.0 %
Last update:	May 2025	May 2025
Contributors in the past 12 months:	1341	11063

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