How to guides · · 2 min read
Cost of living in China: a realistic international student budget for 2027
City-by-city living costs, dormitory versus private rent, and what an all-in year actually costs.
Quick answer
City tiers in numbers
Tier 1 (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen): CNY 3,500–7,000 per month for a student living in a shared flat; CNY 3,000–5,000 in a dormitory.
Tier 2 (Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Tianjin, Suzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao): CNY 2,800–5,000 in a dormitory, CNY 3,500–6,000 renting.
Tier 3 (Wuhan, Xi'an, Chengdu, Changsha, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Changchun, Harbin, Dalian, Hefei): CNY 2,100–3,800 in a dormitory, CNY 2,500–5,000 renting.
In every tier the university dormitory is the single largest saving, typically 40–60% below market rent for equivalent space.
What the components cost
Campus canteen meals: CNY 10–25 each, or CNY 1,000–1,500 per month for three meals a day. Eating out: CNY 30–80 per meal at a mid-range restaurant. Coffee: CNY 20–35. Monthly mobile plan: CNY 40–100. Metro: CNY 2–10 per journey. Gym: CNY 100–400 per month. Textbooks: CNY 200–600 per semester.
International student medical insurance through the national scheme costs around CNY 800 per year, which is why scholarship packages include it.
What people forget
Flights home (USD 400–1,500 each way), the initial winter clothing purchase if you are going to the north-east, visa and residence-permit renewal fees, and the cost of travelling within China, which is moderate thanks to high-speed rail but adds up quickly if you take holidays.
Budget a contingency of 10% and you will not be surprised.