Travel budget and cost of living in China how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in China

China: calculate your travel budget

China: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in China for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in China in 2025

Cost of living: China VS United States

On average, the cost of living in China in 2025 is 48% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Local prices in China by expense type

China: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 3.1/person
($ 2.1 to $ 7)

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84% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 13/person
($ 8.4 to $ 26)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 4.9/person
($ 4.2 to $ 6.7)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 1 for 500ml
($ 0.7 to $ 4.2)

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84% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.1

Imported beer

$ 1.6 for 330ml
($ 1 to $ 2.8)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 3.2/cup
($ 1.4 to $ 4.9)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 0.4/can
($ 0.4 to $ 1.5)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.3/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 0.8)

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86% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

China: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 72/night
($ 37 to $ 226)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167

2-star hotel

$ 89/night
($ 25 to $ 443)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 158

3-star hotel

$ 116/night
($ 37 to $ 557)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 233

4-star hotel

$ 140/night
($ 54 to $ 523)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 325

5-star hotel

$ 208/night
($ 77 to $ 634)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 523

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 79/month
($ 41 to $ 224)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167

Room with kitchen

$ 148/month
($ 43 to $ 582)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 248

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 164/month
($ 53 to $ 584)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 211

Cottage or guest house

$ 93/month
($ 48 to $ 271)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 237

Family room

$ 226/month
($ 60 to $ 918)

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10% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 207

China: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 2.8)

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69% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 3.3/500g
($ 1.6 to $ 7)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Rice

$ 1/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 1.5)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.7

Eggs

$ 1.6/12 eggs
($ 0.9 to $ 2.5)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Chicken

$ 3.3/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 5.6)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 1.9/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 2.8)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Tomatoes

$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2.1)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5

Potatoes

$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.3 to $ 1.4)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.5
($ 0.3 to $ 0.9)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

China: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.4/ticket
($ 0.3 to $ 0.7)

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83% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.3/km
($ 0.3 to $ 0.4)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.2)

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18% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.4
($ 1.1 to $ 2.2)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Car hire

$ 32/24hrs
($ 17 to $ 131)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 74

China: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 6.4/ticket
($ 4.9 to $ 9.8)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 16/hr
($ 7 to $ 29)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

China: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 3.5/pack
($ 2.8 to $ 4.9)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 49
($ 20 to $ 99)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 34
($ 15 to $ 57)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → Hong Kong

$ 812
(fair price: $ 716)

Melbourne → Hong Kong

$ 807
(fair price: $ 708)

Toronto → Hong Kong

$ 2030
(fair price: $ 1789)

Vancouver → Hong Kong

$ 1558
(fair price: $ 1302)

Sydney → Shanghai

$ 850
(fair price: $ 680)

London → Hong Kong

$ 1007
(fair price: $ 816)

London → Lhasa

$ 1249
(fair price: $ 934)

Sydney → Lhasa

$ 1036
(fair price: $ 746)

Melbourne → Lhasa

$ 1020
(fair price: $ 748)

New York City → Lhasa

$ 1990
(fair price: $ 1559)

Book a flight Flight prices to China