Cost of Living & Income: Nanjing vs Chicago

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Nanjing 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

MetricNanjingChicagoNanjing vs Chicago
💰 Average monthly net salary¥9,594¥32,332Chicago earns 3.4× the salary in Nanjing

Daily expenses

MetricNanjingChicagoNanjing vs Chicago
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥25¥135Chicago costs 5.40× the price in Nanjing
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥150¥574Chicago costs 3.82× the price in Nanjing
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥91Chicago costs 2.60× the price in Nanjing
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥366.0¥1,318.2Chicago costs 3.60× the price in Nanjing
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥48.0¥420.4Chicago costs 8.76× the price in Nanjing
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥51.5¥455.6Chicago costs 8.85× the price in Nanjing
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥191.7¥436.6Chicago costs 2.28× the price in Nanjing
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥40.0¥121.5Chicago costs 3.04× the price in Nanjing
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.7¥7.8Nanjing costs 1.11× the price in Chicago

Supermarket prices

MetricNanjingChicagoNanjing vs Chicago
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥59.5¥130.5Chicago costs 2.19× the price in Nanjing
🥚 Eggs (12)¥8.9¥32.3Chicago costs 3.61× the price in Nanjing
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥14.3¥8.9Nanjing costs 1.61× the price in Chicago
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥14.2¥27.2Chicago costs 1.92× the price in Nanjing
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥14.1¥34.4Chicago costs 2.44× the price in Nanjing
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥5.9¥18.6Chicago costs 3.18× the price in Nanjing
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥7.3¥33.8Chicago costs 4.62× the price in Nanjing
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.4¥17.5Chicago costs 2.73× the price in Nanjing
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥90.0¥101.3Chicago costs 1.13× the price in Nanjing

Rent & property prices

MetricNanjingChicagoNanjing vs Chicago
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥3,678¥16,007Chicago costs 4.35× the price in Nanjing
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥1,988¥11,188Chicago costs 5.63× the price in Nanjing
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥7,637¥30,487Chicago costs 3.99× the price in Nanjing
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,774¥18,626Chicago costs 4.94× the price in Nanjing
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥34,464¥27,635Nanjing costs 1.25× the price in Chicago
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥20,982¥18,202Nanjing costs 1.15× the price in Chicago