Cost of Living & Income: Guangzhou vs Chicago

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Guangzhou 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

MetricGuangzhouChicagoGuangzhou vs Chicago
💰 Average monthly net salary¥8,665¥32,332Chicago earns 3.7× the salary in Guangzhou

Daily expenses

MetricGuangzhouChicagoGuangzhou vs Chicago
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥20¥135Chicago costs 6.75× the price in Guangzhou
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥574Chicago costs 2.87× the price in Guangzhou
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥91Chicago costs 2.60× the price in Guangzhou
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥399.3¥1,318.2Chicago costs 3.30× the price in Guangzhou
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥95.1¥420.4Chicago costs 4.42× the price in Guangzhou
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥104.9¥455.6Chicago costs 4.34× the price in Guangzhou
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥440.4¥436.6Guangzhou costs 1.01× the price in Chicago
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥44.0¥121.5Chicago costs 2.76× the price in Guangzhou
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.9¥7.8Guangzhou costs 1.14× the price in Chicago

Supermarket prices

MetricGuangzhouChicagoGuangzhou vs Chicago
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥82.6¥130.5Chicago costs 1.58× the price in Guangzhou
🥚 Eggs (12)¥10.1¥32.3Chicago costs 3.19× the price in Guangzhou
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥12.5¥8.9Guangzhou costs 1.41× the price in Chicago
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥14.0¥27.2Chicago costs 1.95× the price in Guangzhou
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥14.9¥34.4Chicago costs 2.31× the price in Guangzhou
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥6.5¥18.6Chicago costs 2.86× the price in Guangzhou
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥12.0¥33.8Chicago costs 2.82× the price in Guangzhou
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥7.3¥17.5Chicago costs 2.40× the price in Guangzhou
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥83.0¥101.3Chicago costs 1.22× the price in Guangzhou

Rent & property prices

MetricGuangzhouChicagoGuangzhou vs Chicago
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥3,611¥16,007Chicago costs 4.43× the price in Guangzhou
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥1,973¥11,188Chicago costs 5.67× the price in Guangzhou
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥9,183¥30,487Chicago costs 3.32× the price in Guangzhou
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,288¥18,626Chicago costs 5.67× the price in Guangzhou
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥59,055¥27,635Guangzhou costs 2.14× the price in Chicago
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥22,695¥18,202Guangzhou costs 1.25× the price in Chicago