🇨🇳Cost of Living in Chengdu

China · Population: 16,300,000 · Cost Index: 42/100

Cost of Living in Chengdu

China · Asia

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province and home to the famous Giant Panda Research Base. Known for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, teahouse culture, and laid-back lifestyle, it is one of China's most livable and affordable major cities.

16,300,000

Population

Cost Index

Safety Index

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $1,200 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Chengdu

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person

$1,200

per month

Couple

$1,800

per month

Family of 4

$2,520

per month

Student

$900

per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Chengdu, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $645.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$520.00

1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$310.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)

$1,100.00

3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)

$650.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $4.27

Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)

$3.50

Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)

$20.00

McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)

$4.80

Milk (1 liter)(per liter)

$2.10

Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)

$1.50

Rice (1 kg)(per kg)

$0.95

Eggs (12)(per dozen)

$1.80

Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)

$4.50

Apples (1 kg)(per kg)

$2.20

Banana (1 kg)(per kg)

$1.30

Transportation

Avg: $6.62

Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)

$30.00

One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)

$0.40

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)

$1.20

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)

$0.30

Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)

$1.20

Utilities

Avg: $26.33

Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)

$55.00

Mobile Phone Plan(per month)

$10.00

Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)

$14.00

Healthcare

Avg: $15.67

Doctor Visit(per visit)

$15.00

Dentist Visit(per visit)

$25.00

Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)

$7.00

Entertainment

Avg: $10.68

Fitness Club Monthly(per month)

$30.00

Cinema Ticket(per ticket)

$6.00

Cappuccino(per cup)

$4.20

Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)

$2.50

Clothing

Avg: $48.33

Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)

$48.00

Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)

$22.00

Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)

$75.00

Popular Chengdu comparisons

Chengdu vs Shanghai Chengdu vs Beijing Chengdu vs Guangzhou Chengdu vs Shenzhen Chengdu vs New York Chengdu vs London Chengdu vs Tokyo Chengdu vs Singapore

Frequently asked questions about Chengdu

Is Chengdu expensive to live in?

Chengdu has a cost of living index of 42 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This puts it in the mid-range among the cities we track.

How much money do you need to live in Chengdu?

A single person needs an estimated $1,200 per month to live in Chengdu, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.

What is the cost of living index in Chengdu?

Chengdu's cost of living index is 42 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.

What is quality of life like in Chengdu?

Chengdu scores 64 out of 100 for quality of life and 76 out of 100 for safety in our index.