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China is the world’s most populous country and is located in the East Asian region. It has the second-largest economy, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, and has undergone rapid modernization and economic reform. The average monthly cost of living in China without rent is around 4,025 CNY, while rent in China ranges from 1,925 CNY to 3,599 CNY per month. The living expenses in China can vary according to a person’s living standards and preferences.
Many expats around the globe move to study in China and for jobs. If you plan to move to China, ensure you know all your basic living expenses. In this blog post, we will show the cost of living in China with various parameters, including food costs, rent, transportation costs, utilities costs, and many others. So, let’s begin our discussion without any further delay.
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Cost of Living in China for International Students
On average, the monthly cost of living in China for a single person, including rent, is 6,500 CNY. This is around 50% lower than the cost of living in the United States. China attracts people worldwide for its unmatched living standards, robust business ecosystem, low taxes and duties, competitive currency practices, and high-quality education system and programs.
Before moving to China, students should know how much money they have to keep with them. Here, we have categorised the average cost of living in China into different categories for the immigrants who wish to move here.
Cost of Rent in China
Approx. 3,600 CNY is the average cost of rent in China for a single person in the city centre area, but it can vary according to the budget and lifestyle a person prefers. The costs of living in China concerning apartment rent are as follows:
| Apartment Location | Approx. Monthly Rent |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 3,600 CNY |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 1,925 CNY |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 7,963 CNY |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 4,040 CNY |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Helsinki: A Comprehensive Guide on Helsinki’s Expense
Cost of Grocery in China
Approx. 440 CNY is the average monthly cost of groceries in China, including milk, bread, rice, water, vegetables, fruits and other groceries. As a daily expense, grocery costs can impact your cost of living in China. Below is a list of a few grocery items with their prices available in China:
| Grocery Item | Approx. Cost |
| Milk (regular), (1 litre) | 14.09 CNY |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 11.73 CNY |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 6.93 CNY |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 12.53 CNY |
| Apples (1kg) | 13.21 CNY |
| Banana (1kg) | 9.82 CNY |
| Oranges (1kg) | 11.41 CNY |
| Tomato (1kg) | 8.73 CNY |
| Potato (1kg) | 5.64 CNY |
| Onion (1kg) | 6.71 CNY |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 4.62 CNY |
| Water (1.5 litre bottle) | 4.03 CNY |
| Cheese, Meat, Egg, Drinks and Other items | 330 CNY |
Cost of Utilities in China
Approx. 570 CNY per month for a single person is a basic utility cost in China, which is relatively low from the cost of living in China. Electricity, gas, a monthly mobile plan, and internet data are included in the utility cost in China. For your reference, we have given the Cost of Utilities in China for immigrant students in the country:
| Utility Type | Approx. Monthly Cost |
| Basic Utility for 85m2 Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 390 CNY |
| Internet (60+ Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 90 CNY |
| Monthly Plan of Mobile Phone (with Calls & 10GB+ Data) | 88 CNY |
Cost of Transportation in China
Approx. 200 CNY is a monthly transportation cost in China for travelling around a local city. Its public transportation network includes buses, Ttxi/Dddi, metro/subways, bicycles/scooters, trains/high-speed rails, and aeroplanes. The cost of transportation in China comes under the overall cost of living in China. Here, we have given various modes of transportation with their fare costs:
| Mode of Transport | Approx. Monthly Cost |
| One-way Ticket(Local Transport) | 3 CNY |
| Monthly Pass(Regular Price) | 200 CNY |
| Taxi Start(Normal Tariff) | 10 CNY |
| Taxi 1km(Normal Tariff) | 2.50 CNY |
| Taxi 1 hour Waiting(Normal Tariff) | 48 CNY |
| Gasoline (1 litre) | 8.52 CNY |
Average Tuition Cost in China
The average tuition cost in China is approximately 30,000 CNY /year. More precisely for undergraduate programs is around 30,000 CNY /year, and for postgraduate programs, it is around 40,000 CNY/year. Moreover, the government of China has set up a tuition Scholarship (BGS) to support International students.
Along with the average cost of living in China, the essential thing for expats is the average tuition fees of top universities in China. For your reference, in the table, we have given the average tuition fees for some top universities in China.
| Universities | Programs Category | Approx. Tuition Cost (per year) |
| Tsinghua University | Bachelor | 30,000 CNY |
| Masters | 35,000 CNY | |
| Peking University | Bachelor | 30,000 CNY |
| Masters | 40,000 CNY | |
| PhD | 40,000 CNY | |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Bachelor | 25,000 CNY |
| Masters | 29,000 CNY | |
| PhD | 45,500 CNY | |
| Zhejiang University | Bachelor | 20,000 to 200,000 CNY |
| Masters | 23,000 to 211,000 CNY | |
| PhD | 30,000 to 43,000 CNY | |
| China Institute of Technology | Bachelor | 30,000 CNY |
| Masters | 35,000 CNY | |
| PhD | 44,000 CNY | |
| China Normal University | Bachelor | 25,000 CNY |
| Masters | 30,000 CNY | |
| PhD | 35,000 CNY |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Georgia: A Comprehensive Guide on Georgia’s Expense
Things to Consider Before Moving to China
China offers a fresh, enriching lifestyle, excellent Chinese culture, and world-famous cuisine. Before finalising the cost of living in China’s budget, a student should consider a few other essential things while moving to China for higher education. For your reference, we have included some essential things you should consider before moving to China:
Safety in China for Visitors
Crime against tourists is infrequent in China, and tourism is becoming a big industry in the country. The country is eager to attract more visitors. While it is very safe to travel in China, getting health insurance is still advisable if any medical issues arise during your time there.
Food in China
Chinese food is different, and various options are available here, with slightly different tastes. You can get unique dishes, local tea and local specialities throughout the country. The cost of food will only affect the cost of living in China a little.
Free 144 Hours Visa in China
Before planning the cost of living in China, if you want to explore the city to gauge the cost of living, China has an excellent 144-hour free visa transit policy. This means anyone can visit China or any city in China on a Visa, provided people come from 54 eligible countries.
Healthcare in China
China’s healthcare system is also among the most efficient and ranked among the top in the world. The country provides free basic healthcare to its public under its social insurance plan, which sometimes also covers most expats depending on their region. The negligible expenses do not affect the cost of living in China.
Work Opportunities in China
China is the centre of trade and commerce in the country of China. It is a busy place for jobs and has big Chinese tech companies like Lenovo, Intel, AMD, Google, and Microsoft. Moreover, it also has the China Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA) and there are plenty of job opportunities in textiles, tourism, metallurgy, appliances, and manufacturing industries.
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FAQs
Answer: The monthly average cost of living in China, including rent, is 6,500 CNY, but living expenses can vary according to the location and standard of lifestyle a person selects.
Answer: The estimated monthly costs for a single person without rent are 4,025 NCY. The cost of living in China is around 50% lower than in the United States.
Answer: The monthly average salary in China ranges from 7,410 CNY to 131,000 CNY. It is much more than the average cost of living in China, meaning you can enjoy a leisurely life in China and send extra money home.
Answer: The monthly cost of rent in China for a single person is around 3,600 CNY. Rent costs can vary according to the location a person selects, which makes the cost of living in China affordable.
So, this was all about the cost of living in China. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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