China vs Thailand - Cost of Living Comparison

Updated:

Livingcost

China Thailand
🚶 Cost of living one person
$679
$790
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Cost of living Family
$1883
$2327
🏠 One person rent
$287
$352
🏘️ Family rent
$532
$908
🍽️ Food expenses
$238
$249
🚐 Transport expenses
$72.6
$102
💳 Monthly salary after tax
$826
$608
💸 GDP per capita
$12720
$6910
😃 Human freedom index
5.15
6.67
❤️ Life expectancy
78.2
78.7
👮 Corruption perceptions index
42
35
🌐 English speaking %
0.7%
27.2%
🎓 Higher education
91
78
😀 Quality of life
50
58
🏙️ Population
1.44B
66.2M

The average cost of living in China ($679) is 14% less expensive than in Thailand ($790). China ranked 138th vs 114th for Thailand 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 0.8 months in Thailand. Ranked 83rd and 66th best countries to live in the world.

Salary adjustment calculator
the estimated difference in money purchasing power

Cost of living in China vs Thailand infographic

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Prices in China vs Thailand

We calculate prices for China and Thailand as a population-weighted mean of 544 and 35 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 Thailand
Eating Out
🍱 Lunch Menu
$3.65
$2.43
🥂 Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2
$21.9
$22.7
🥪 Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's
$5.05
$5.58
🍻 Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$1.34
$2.11
 Cappuccino
$3.3
$2.17
🥤 Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz
$0.48
$0.58
Rent & Utilities
🏙️ 1 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$334
$493
🏡 Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2
$214
$230
🏙️ 3 bedroom apartment in Downtown, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$653
$1228
🏡 Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2
$416
$707
🔌 Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$36.8
$51.8
🔌 Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc.
$56.6
$80.5
🌐 Internet plan, 50 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited
$12.8
$15.7
🏦 Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years
4.73%
5.43%
🏙️ Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$5178
$4099
🏡 House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2
$2803
$2095
Transportation
🚌 Local transport ticket
$0.37
$1
🎟️ Monthly ticket local transport
$21.7
$31.1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi
$4.1
$9.94
 Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal
$1.16
$1.11
Groceries
🥛 Milk, 1 L or 1 qt
$1.87
$1.65
🍞 Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb
$1.52
$1.49
🍚 Rice, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.04
$1.42
🥚 Eggs, x12
$1.71
$2.15
🧀 Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$12.2
$17.8
🐔 Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$3.69
$2.88
🥩 Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$11.9
$10.7
🍏 Apples, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.67
$2.76
🍌 Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.28
$1.32
🍊 Oranges, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.55
$2.03
🍅 Tomato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$1.22
$1.52
🥔 Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.8
$1.44
🧅 Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb
$0.92
$1.19
🌊 Water, 1 L or 1 qt
$0.4
$0.3
🍹 Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz
$1.19
$1.22
🍾 Wine (mid-priced), 750 mL bottle
$12.5
$17.2
🍺 Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz
$0.82
$1.67
🚬 Cigarette pack
$3.23
$4.02
💊 Cold medicince, 1 week
$4.83
$2.26
🧴 Hair Shampoo
$4.55
$3.82
🧻 Toilet paper, 4 rolls
$1.45
$1.6
👄 Toothpaste, 1 tube
$1.64
$1.76
Other
🏋️ Gym Membership, 1 month
$38.3
$49
🎫 Cinema Ticket, 1 person
$5.98
$6.65
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's visit
$33.7
$28.8
💇 Haircut, simple
$5.51
$7.8
👖 Brand Jeans
$53.1
$48.5
👟 Brand Sneakers
$75.9
$88.3
👶 Daycare or Preschool, 1 month
$444
$493
🏫 International Primary School, 1 year
$16225
$11420

Cost of living in other countries

Cost of living

Cities Comparison in China vs Thailand

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 Thailand

City Cost of living Population
Bangkok
$902
5.68M
Chiang Mai
$659
1.2M
Nonthaburi
$704
256K
Pak Kret
$677
185K
Nakhon Pathom
$481
78.8K
Surat Thani
$554
131K
Klaeng
$619
130K
Chaophraya Surasak
$647
133K
Nakhon Ratchasima
$518
134K
Nakhon Si Thammarat
$642
106K
Udon Thani
$500
130K
Hat Yai
$520
159K
Rangsit
$594
79.3K
Pattaya
$665
116K
Pu Chao Saming Phrai
$714
76.7K
Tha Khlong
$617
72.8K
Nakhon Sawan
$615
86.4K
Lat Luang
$716
73.9K
Khon Kaen
$532
116K
Phuket
$870
77.6K
Ko Samui
$642
69K
Laem Chabang
$648
77.8K
Hua Hin
$614
59.4K
Nong Prue
$653
70.6K
Ubon Ratchathani
$534
79K
Phitsanulok
$496
70.9K
Chiang Rai
$462
70.6K
Krabi
$739
30.5K
Ko Lanta
$697
33.4K
Ao Nang
$653
14K