How much does it cost to live in China?
If your contract includes teacher housing, you’ll only need to spend money on things like food, transport and social activities.
So if you eat like the locals do (i.e. street food and basic restaurants), take public transport, and don’t go too crazy socializing on the weekend, you’ll have plenty of money left over.
On the flipside, if you constantly eat out at Western restaurants, buy Western clothes, and refuse to take public transport, your money could slip through your fingers quickly.
Check out the tables below for a guide on the cost of everyday things in China.
Note that the prices quoted are for a typical mid-sized Chinese city. Prices can differ greatly between cities.
Need to convert the Chinese price into your own currency? Scroll to the currency converter widget at the bottom of this page.
Supermarket
| Item | Chinese price (¥) |
| Salt (500g) | 2 |
| Pepper (30g) | 18 |
| Coffee (50g) | 26 |
| Water (1.5L) | 3 |
| Water (small bottle) | 2 |
| Cooking oil (small bottle) | 18 |
| Broccoli (500g) | 6 |
| Cabbage (500g) | 5 |
| Peppers (500g) | 8 |
| Fruit (500g) | 9+ depending on type |
| Rice (10kg sack) | 58 |
| Bread | 7 |
| Pasta (500g) | 10 |
| Pork (500g) | 16 |
| Cooking oil (5L bottle) | 90 |
| Soft drink (1.5L) | 7 |
| Soft drink (can) | 3 |
| Frozen dumplings (packet) | 30 |
| Chocolate bar | 12 |
| Ice cream stick (e.g. Magnum) | 11 |
| Crisps (large packet) | 6 |
| Biscuits (400g) | 9 |
| Laundry detergent (2kg bottle) | 40 |
| Toilet paper rolls (bulk pack) | 32 |
Toiletries
| Item | Chinese price (¥) |
| Toothpaste | 10-30 depending on type |
| Soap | 5 |
| Shampoo | 20-40 depending on brand |
| Deodorant | 78 |
| Dental floss | 21 |
| Female sanitary | 9 |
Eating out
| Item | Chinese price (¥) |
| Steamed bun | 3-4 depending on filling |
| Noodles with meat and vegetables | 15 |
| Fried rice | 15 |
| Noodles (street food) | 10 |
| Bowl of dumplings | 15 |
| McDonalds, KFC | 18 per burger, RMB 22+ for a meal |
| Large pizza | 80-100 |
Entertainment and alcohol
| Item | Chinese price (¥) |
| Cinema ticket | 33 |
| Beer (small bottle) | 5-10 depending on brand |
| Imported spirits (e.g. whiskey) | 188 |
| Chinese wine (300ml) | 23 |
Transport
| Item | Chinese price (¥) |
| Taxi (per km) | 3-4 |
| Bus (per trip) | 1-2 |
| Subway (per trip) | 5 |
So there you have it - the cost of living in China for everyday things.
