China vs South Korea - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

China South Korea
🚶 Cost of living one person
$679
$1118
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1883
$3093
🏠 One person rent
$287
$471
🏘️ Family rent
$532
$1095
🍽️ Food expenses
$238
$454
🚐 Transport expenses
$72.6
$98.5
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$826
$2392
💸 GDP per capita
$12720
$32423
😃 Human freedom index
5.15
8.12
❤️ Life expectancy
78.2
83.5
👮 Corruption perceptions index
42
63
🌐 English speaking %
0.7%
20%
🎓 Higher education
91
87
😀 Quality of life
50
87
🏙️ Population
1.44B
51.5M

The average cost of living in China ($679) is 39% less expensive than in South Korea ($1118). China ranked 138th vs 62nd 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 83rd and 20th 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
$3.65
$6.47
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$21.9
$35
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.05
$5.62
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.34
$3.31
 Cappuccino
$3.3
$3.63
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.48
$1.46
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$334
$466
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$214
$323
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$653
$1256
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$416
$839
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$36.8
$99.4
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$56.6
$153
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$12.8
$20.9
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.73%
4.46%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5178
$10104
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2803
$6925
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.37
$1.06
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$21.7
$44.3
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$4.1
$9.06
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.16
$1.24
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.87
$2.07
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.52
$2.86
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.04
$3.19
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.71
$3.26
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.2
$11.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.69
$8.08
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$31.2
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.67
$6.08
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.28
$3.32
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$5.58
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.22
$5.12
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.8
$3.6
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.92
$2.97
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.4
$0.68
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.19
$2.53
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$12.5
$15.3
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.82
$2.1
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.23
$3.35
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.83
$4.94
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.55
$5.38
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.45
$2.37
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.64
$2.13
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$38.3
$51.9
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$5.98
$9.9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$33.7
$28.1
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.51
$8.02
👖 Brand Jeans
$53.1
$62.1
👟 Brand Sneakers
$75.9
$78
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$444
$385
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$16225
$17694

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
$1065
21.9M
Shanghai
$1190
24.9M
Hong Kong
$2614
7.41M
Shenzhen
$939
17.5M
Chongqing
$712
32.1M
Guangzhou
$742
18.7M
Chengdu
$643
20.9M
Tianjin
$688
13.9M
Xi'an
$632
13M
Suzhou
$1020
12.7M
Hangzhou
$831
11.9M
Baoding
$466
11.5M
Wuhan
$646
12.3M
Wuxi
$687
7.46M
Foshan
$575
9.5M
Nanjing
$740
9.31M
Bijie
$606
6.9M
Dongguan
$589
10.5M
Hefei
$707
9.37M
Ganzhou
$812
8.97M
Changchun
$612
9.07M
Nantong
$651
7.73M
Qingdao
$653
10.1M
Jieyang
$716
6.09M
Changsha
$533
10M
Yantai
$749
7.1M
Zhengzhou
$506
12.6M
Guiyang
$564
5.99M
Ningbo
$677
9.4M
Kunming
$609
8.46M

In South Korea

City Cost of living Population
Seoul
$1444
9.67M
Busan
$1029
3.45M
Incheon
$1020
2.94M
Daegu
$1113
2.44M
Daejeon
$924
1.48M
Gwangju
$1147
1.49M
Suwon
$987
1.23M
Ulsan
$1078
1.15M
Seongnam
$1121
949K
Changwon
$1073
1.05M
Cheongju
$903
849K
Yongin
$1256
971K
Jeju Island
$1056
678K
Goyang
$1144
1.06M
Hwaseong
$1088
904K
Namyangju
$1106
713K
Bucheon
$1152
793K
Gimhae
$907
534K
Jeju
$1003
435K
Cheonan
$940
652K
Ansan
$1127
653K
Siheung
$1081
425K
Uijeongbu
$986
463K
Anyang
$1097
548K
Gunsan
$975
275K
Pohang
$989
504K
Masan
$1006
430K
Jeonju
$787
653K
Pyeongtaek
$924
458K
Paju
$1072
415K