China vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

China South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$692
$1138
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1854
$3197
🏠 One person rent
$301
$477
🏘️ Family rent
$533
$1142
🍽️ Food expenses
$238
$459
🚐 Transport expenses
$71.3
$105
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$833
$2364
💸 GDP per capita
$12720
$32255
😃 Human freedom index
5.22
8.11
❤️ Life expectancy
78.2
83.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
45
63
🌐 English speaking %
0.7%
20%
🎓 Higher education
90
88
😀 Quality of life
51
88
🏙️ Population
1.44B
51.5M

The average cost of living in China ($692) is 39% less expensive than in South Korea ($1138). China ranked 138th vs 58th for South Korea in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

The average after-tax salary is enough to cover living expenses for 1.2 months in China compared to 2.1 months in South Korea. Ranked 81st and 21st best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in China vs South Korea infographic

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Prices in China vs South Korea

We calculate prices for China and South Korea as a population-weighted mean of 544 and 87 cities, respectively. Since large cities tend to have a higher cost of living, it's better to visit specific city pages below for more relevant information.

China South Korea
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.73
$6.35
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$21.3
$32.3
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$4.85
$5.69
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.56
$3.27
 Cappuccino
$3.39
$3.69
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.48
$1.54
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$340
$473
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$231
$328
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$649
$1311
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$420
$883
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$35.5
$98.2
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$54.5
$151
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$12.6
$21.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.93%
4.08%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$4602
$8587
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2867
$5716
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.35
$1.07
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$20.3
$46.3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$4.27
$10.1
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.14
$1.35
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.82
$2.04
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.48
$2.91
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.08
$3.08
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.71
$3.32
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.4
$13.3
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.71
$8.61
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$27.9
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.63
$6.21
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.3
$3.57
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.47
$6.05
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.2
$5.32
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.81
$3.58
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.87
$2.8
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.41
$0.73
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.2
$2.65
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$13.1
$15.1
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.83
$2.17
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.19
$3.56
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.83
$5.2
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.49
$5.75
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.46
$2.52
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.62
$2.28
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$34.3
$48.3
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$6.04
$9.81
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$34.8
$32.4
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.54
$8.89
👖 Brand Jeans
$53.2
$61.3
👟 Brand Sneakers
$78.8
$79.7
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$393
$348
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$14422
$20271

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in China vs South Korea

More countries to compare

Cost of Living in Popular cities

In China

City Cost of living Population
Beijing
$1150
21.9M
Shanghai
$1183
24.9M
Shenzhen
$1043
17.5M
Chongqing
$684
32.1M
Hong Kong
$2720
7.41M
Guangzhou
$760
18.7M
Chengdu
$677
20.9M
Tianjin
$724
13.9M
Hangzhou
$849
11.9M
Xi'an
$563
13M
Nantong
$756
7.73M
Baoding
$494
11.5M
Wuhan
$643
12.3M
Suzhou
$1073
12.7M
Qingdao
$647
10.1M
Nanjing
$762
9.31M
Shijiazhuang
$508
10.6M
Foshan
$605
9.5M
Wuxi
$813
7.46M
Quanzhou
$687
8.78M
Hefei
$636
9.37M
Bijie
$614
6.9M
Changchun
$604
9.07M
Dongguan
$726
10.5M
Ningbo
$844
9.4M
Jieyang
$957
6.09M
Ganzhou
$831
8.97M
Guiyang
$568
5.99M
Yantai
$642
7.1M
Shenyang
$580
9.07M

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1513
9.67M
Busan
$1095
3.45M
Incheon
$1054
2.94M
Daegu
$1161
2.44M
Gwangju
$970
1.49M
Daejeon
$1009
1.48M
Suwon
$1046
1.23M
Ulsan
$1120
1.15M
Seongnam
$1089
949K
Changwon
$1089
1.05M
Yongin
$1320
971K
Goyang
$1128
1.06M
Hwaseong
$1060
904K
Namyangju
$1104
713K
Jeju Island
$1123
678K
Cheongju
$880
849K
Bucheon
$1135
793K
Anyang
$1081
548K
Gimhae
$877
534K
Pohang
$985
504K
Ansan
$1013
653K
Siheung
$1057
425K
Uijeongbu
$921
463K
Gunsan
$1000
275K
Jeju
$1110
435K
Jeonju
$810
653K
Cheonan
$989
652K
Pyeongtaek
$942
458K
Masan
$990
430K
Paju
$1043
415K