Cost of Living & Income: Chengdu vs Johannesburg

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Chengdu and Johannesburg 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

MetricChengduJohannesburgChengdu vs Johannesburg
💰 Average monthly net salary¥8,523¥11,902Johannesburg earns 1.4× the salary in Chengdu

Daily expenses

MetricChengduJohannesburgChengdu vs Johannesburg
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥18¥83Johannesburg costs 4.59× the price in Chengdu
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥148¥320Johannesburg costs 2.17× the price in Chengdu
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥50Johannesburg costs 1.42× the price in Chengdu
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥276.8¥1,429.2Johannesburg costs 5.16× the price in Chengdu
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥84.9¥263.1Johannesburg costs 3.10× the price in Chengdu
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥64.6¥239.8Johannesburg costs 3.71× the price in Chengdu
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥181.8¥270.6Johannesburg costs 1.49× the price in Chengdu
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥40.0¥53.7Johannesburg costs 1.34× the price in Chengdu
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.4¥10.2Johannesburg costs 1.22× the price in Chengdu

Supermarket prices

MetricChengduJohannesburgChengdu vs Johannesburg
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥75.3¥60.7Chengdu costs 1.24× the price in Johannesburg
🥚 Eggs (12)¥10.6¥17.1Johannesburg costs 1.62× the price in Chengdu
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥12.5¥8.9Chengdu costs 1.41× the price in Johannesburg
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥11.3¥8.5Chengdu costs 1.33× the price in Johannesburg
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥12.3¥14.1Johannesburg costs 1.15× the price in Chengdu
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥4.8¥11.3Johannesburg costs 2.35× the price in Chengdu
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥8.2¥13.9Johannesburg costs 1.69× the price in Chengdu
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥5.4¥12.1Johannesburg costs 2.24× the price in Chengdu
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥37.5¥41.3Johannesburg costs 1.10× the price in Chengdu

Rent & property prices

MetricChengduJohannesburgChengdu vs Johannesburg
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥3,157¥3,658Johannesburg costs 1.16× the price in Chengdu
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥1,740¥2,977Johannesburg costs 1.71× the price in Chengdu
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥5,711¥7,149Johannesburg costs 1.25× the price in Chengdu
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,595¥6,169Johannesburg costs 1.72× the price in Chengdu
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥25,294¥6,724Chengdu costs 3.76× the price in Johannesburg
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥13,037¥5,101Chengdu costs 2.56× the price in Johannesburg