Cost of Living & Income: Chengdu vs Chicago

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Chengdu and Chicago are averages compiled from millions of user-contributed income and living-cost entries worldwide over the last 12 months (updated July 2026), converted to Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥). Green 🟢 marks a higher income or a lower price. Source: NUMBEO, which is widely cited by international media; the Seapoe team compiled, translated and processed the data.

Income comparison

MetricChengduChicagoChengdu vs Chicago
💰 Average monthly net salary¥8,523¥32,332Chicago earns 3.8× the salary in Chengdu

Daily expenses

MetricChengduChicagoChengdu vs Chicago
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥18¥135Chicago costs 7.50× the price in Chengdu
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥148¥574Chicago costs 3.89× the price in Chengdu
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥91Chicago costs 2.60× the price in Chengdu
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥276.8¥1,318.2Chicago costs 4.76× the price in Chengdu
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥84.9¥420.4Chicago costs 4.95× the price in Chengdu
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥64.6¥455.6Chicago costs 7.05× the price in Chengdu
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥181.8¥436.6Chicago costs 2.40× the price in Chengdu
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥40.0¥121.5Chicago costs 3.04× the price in Chengdu
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.4¥7.8Chengdu costs 1.08× the price in Chicago

Supermarket prices

MetricChengduChicagoChengdu vs Chicago
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥75.3¥130.5Chicago costs 1.73× the price in Chengdu
🥚 Eggs (12)¥10.6¥32.3Chicago costs 3.06× the price in Chengdu
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥12.5¥8.9Chengdu costs 1.40× the price in Chicago
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥11.3¥27.2Chicago costs 2.41× the price in Chengdu
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥12.3¥34.4Chicago costs 2.79× the price in Chengdu
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥4.8¥18.6Chicago costs 3.86× the price in Chengdu
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥8.2¥33.8Chicago costs 4.12× the price in Chengdu
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥5.4¥17.5Chicago costs 3.25× the price in Chengdu
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥37.5¥101.3Chicago costs 2.70× the price in Chengdu

Rent & property prices

MetricChengduChicagoChengdu vs Chicago
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥3,157¥16,007Chicago costs 5.07× the price in Chengdu
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥1,740¥11,188Chicago costs 6.43× the price in Chengdu
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥5,711¥30,487Chicago costs 5.34× the price in Chengdu
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,595¥18,626Chicago costs 5.18× the price in Chengdu
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥25,294¥27,635Chicago costs 1.09× the price in Chengdu
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥13,037¥18,202Chicago costs 1.40× the price in Chengdu