To give you a better idea, we have created a table comparing the cost of living between China and the United States. With the help of Numbeo, we were able to gather information on the costs of basic necessities between the two countries. Cost of living vary somewhat from city to city so we have picked 2 major cities in each country and also included a third-tier city in China to provide you a wider perspective.
Salary
Beijing
First- Tier City |
Hangzhou
Third- Tier City |
China | New York | US | |
Salaries and Financing | |||||
Average Monthly Disposable Salary for Locals (After Tax) | 6,105 CNY
978 USD |
4,939 CNY
790 USD |
4,357 CNY
697 USD |
28,392 CNY
4,551 USD |
20,474 CNY
3,75 USD |
Range of Salary of English Teachers in China (depending on the school and the teacher’s qualifications) | 9-000 – 16,000 CNY
1,440 – 2,560 USD |
7,000 – 16,000 CNY
1,120 – 2,560 USD |
Food
The cost of food is one of the important ways to compare the cost of living between two countries according to Amber D. Walker. Since China has a vast amount of agricultural resources, food in China costs are a lot lower than the US. You may choose from pages of pages of delicious Chinese cuisines as well as your favorite food from home. You can literally afford to eat out for every meal 3 or more times a day. A fancy restaurant may of course cost two or three times more than normal restaurants though. According to Numbeo, restaurant prices in the United States are 75 % higher than in China and grocery prices are 52% more expensive compared to China.
Beijing
|
Hangzhou | China | New York | US | |
Restaurants | |||||
Inexpensive meals | 30.00 CNY
4.81 USD |
28.50 CNY
4.56 USD |
24.00 CNY
3.84 USD |
93.57 CNY
15.00 USD |
62.50 CNY
10.00 USD |
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant, Three course | 150 CNY
24.05 USD |
135.00 CNY
21.60 USD |
150.00 CNY
24.00 USD |
467.85 CNY
75.00 USD |
281.25 CNY
45.00 USD |
Combo meal at fast food restaurants | 28.00 CNY
4.49 USD |
27.50 CNY
4.40 USD |
27.00 CNY
4.32 USD |
46.79 CNY
7.50 USD |
40.62 CNY
6.50 USD |
Soda- .33 liter per bottle | 4.19 CNY
0.67 USD |
4.19 CNY
0.67 USD |
3.47 CNY
0.56 USD |
11.09 CNY
1.78 USD |
9.96 CNY
1.59 USD |
Water .33 liter per bottle | 2.26 CNY
0.36 USD |
2.30 CNY
0.37 USD |
2.16 CNY
0.34 USD |
9.69 CNY
1.55 USD |
7.96 CNY
1.27 USD |
Markets | |||||
Milk | 12.00 CNY
1.92 USD |
15.50 CNY
2.48 USD |
13.13 CNY
2.10 USD |
8.68 CNY
1.39 USD |
6.24 CNY
1.00 USD |
Loaf of Fresh White Bread 500g | 10.35 CNY
1.66 USD |
9.77 CNY
1.56 USD |
10.38 CNY
1.66 USD |
17.64 CNY
2.83 USD |
15.06 CNY
2.41 USD |
Rice White 1 kg | 6.88 CNY
1.10 USD |
7.23 CNY
1.16 USD |
6.50 CNY
1.04 USD |
18.92 CNY
2.96 USD |
18.33 CNY
2.93 USD |
Eggs (per dozen) | 12.46 CNY
2.00 USD |
10.50 CNY
1.68 USD |
11.62 CNY
1.86 USD |
18.92 CNY
3.03 USD |
14.20 CNY
2.27 USD |
Local Cheese (per kg) | 85.38 CNY
13.69 USD |
102.00 CNY
16.32 USD |
92.31 CNY
15.09 USD |
65.32 CNY
10.47 USD |
58.90 CNY
9.42 USD |
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless) (per kg) | 26.32 CNY
4.22 USD |
25.00 CNY
4.00 USD |
25.89 CNY
4.14 USD |
54.78 CNY
8.78 USD |
48.47 CNY
7.76 USD |
Apples 1 kg | 13.90 CNY
2.23 USD |
14.00 CNY
2.24 USD |
11.26 CNY
1.80 USD |
26.05 CNY
4.18 USD |
23.49 CNY
3.76 USD |
Tomato 1kg | 8.11 CNY
1.30 USD |
12.00 CNY
1.92 USD |
8.18 CNY
1.31 USD |
28.19 CNY
4.52 USD |
23.47 CNY
3.75 USD |
Lettuce 1kg | 4.14 CNY
0.66 USD |
9.00 CNY
1.44 USD |
4.20 CNY
0.67 USD |
14.80 CNY
2.35 USD |
9.85 CNY
1.58 USD |
Water 1.5 liter bottle | 4.58 CNY
0.73 USD |
4.67 CNY
0.75 USD |
3.85 CNY
0.62 USD |
12.03 CNY
1.93 USD |
10.99 CNY
1.76 USD |
Bottle of Wine Mid-Range | 98.00 CNY
15.71 USD |
117.50 CNY
18.80 USD |
80.00 CNY
12.80 USD |
93.57 CNY
15.00 USD |
75.00 CNY
12.00 USD |
Domestic Beer 0.5 liter | 4.30 CNY
0.69 USD |
6.30 CNY
1.01 USD |
4.65 CNY
0.74 USD |
10.88 CNY
1.74 USD |
14.40 CNY2.30 USD |
Imported Beer 0.33 liter bottle | 17.04 CNY
2.73 USD |
13.33 CNY
2.13 USD |
13.86 CNY
2.22 USD |
15.74 CNY
2.52 USD |
20.48 CNY
3.28 USD |
Rent
Rent varies depending on which city you are living in. It costs relatively higher in cosmopolitan cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, New York or Washington DC. Third tier cities in China can cost a lot less compared to the same kind of place in the US or first tier cities in China. Rent prices in the United States are higher compared to China by 56% according to Numbeo.
|
Utilities
Electricity, gas, water and Internet service costs more than twice in the United States compared to China.
Beijing | Shanghai | Hangzhou | China | Washington | New York | US | |
Utilities (Monthly) | |||||||
Basic (Electricity, Heating, water, garbage) for 85 m2 apartment | 372.80 CNY
59.76 USD |
358.62 CNY
57.49 USD |
248.66 CNY
39.79 USD |
345.51 CNY
55.28 USD |
1,024.66 CNY
164.26 USD |
947.02 CNY
151.81 USD |
1,009.47 CNY
161.52 USD |
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | 0.42 CNY
0.07 USD |
0.22 CNY
0.04 USD |
0.35 CNY
0.06 USD |
0.34 CNY
0.05 USD |
0.69 CNY
0.11 USD |
1.02 CNY
0.16 USD |
0.94 CNY
0.15 USD |
Internet (6 mbps, unlimited Data, Cable/ Adsl | 121.14 CNY
19.42 USD |
139.06 CNY
22.29 USD |
140.00 CNY
22.40 USD |
118.87 CNY
19.02 USD |
311.90 CNY
50.00 USD |
308.40 CNY
49.44 USD |
288.68 CNY
46.35 USD |
Transportation
The local transportation is higher in the United States by almost 525% compared to China. A one-kilometer cab ride can also be 300% more expensive in the US despite the gasoline costing 24% more in China compared to the United States. If you are thinking of buying a car though, US is cheaper by 19% because of the high tax imposed by the government on purchasing vehicles in China.
Beijing | Shanghai | Hangzhou | China | Washington | New York | US | |
Transportation | |||||||
One- way ticket Local Transport | 2.00 CNY
0.32 USD |
3.00 CNY
0.48 USD |
2.50 CNY
0.40 USD |
2.00 CNY
0.32 USD |
13.10 CNY
2.10 USD |
15.60 CNY
2.50 USD |
12.50 CNY
2.00 USD |
Gasoline 1 liter | 8.09 CNY
1.30 USD |
7.98 CNY
1.28 USD |
7.87 CNY
1.26 USD |
7.93 CNY
1.27 USD |
6.29 CNY
1.01 USD |
6.62 CNY
1.06 USD |
5.99 CNY
0.96 USD |
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90KW Trendline (or Equivalent New Car) | 159,641.60 CNY
25,591.79 USD |
150,000 CNY
24,046.17 USD |
158,747.46 CNY
25,400.00 USD |
150,000 CNY
24,800.40 USD |
116,962.50 CNY
18,750.00 USD |
143,474 CNY
23,000 USD |
124,998 CNY
20,000.00 USD |
Sports and Leisure | |||||||
Fitness Club, Monthly fee for adults | 316.67 CNY
50.76 USD |
276.67 CNY
44.35 USD |
250.00 CNY
40.00 USD |
242.35 CNY
38.78 USD |
442.89 CNY
71.00 USD |
581.62 CNY
93.24 USD |
245.54 CNY
39.29 USD |
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 80.00 CNY
12.82 USD |
80.00 CNY
12.82 USD |
100.00 CNY
16.00 USD |
70.00 CNY
11.20 USD |
74.86 CNY
12.00 USD |
87.33 CNY
14.00 USD |
62.50 CNY
10.00 USD |
As the cost of living in China is much lower than that in the US including the generous salaries and excellent benefits such as free accommodation and sometimes even free meals during working hours, working in China can offer you a comfortable living condition. If you like to travel, China has a lot of wonderful places to visit at a very low cost. You will also have the opportunity to visit neighboring countries in Asia with cheap airfare tickets. If you are good in managing your finances, you may even save a good amount of money before you go back to your home country.
China has a lot to offer. If you are interested in learning more about their culture first hand while making a difference to the lives of students, ask us today on how you can begin this adventure. Teach English in China and be part of one of the fastest changing countries in the world. We offer a wide variety of high paying English teaching jobs in different major cities in China. Apply now.
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