How expensive is Suzhou compared to the rest of China?

Suzhou ranks #482 out of 577 cities globally. It is 7.9% cheaper than the China average, based on 13 cities. The rent index is 10.5 and local purchasing power is 112.6.

What is the average rent in Suzhou?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Suzhou city centre costs approximately CNY 3,036 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to CNY 1,293 (saving 57%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around CNY 7,045.

Is Suzhou affordable to live in?

Suzhou is affordable by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is average. Workers in China earning CNY 379,493 gross take home approximately CNY 22,015 per month after tax.

🇨🇳 China · 2026

Cost of Living in Suzhou

7.9% below the China average

Ranked #482 of 577 cities · More expensive than 16.5% of cities worldwide

-7.9%

Cost of Living

-13.9%

Rent

-1.8%

Groceries

+2.3%

Purchasing Power

Compared to China average · See China ranking →

Rent Prices in Suzhou

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	CNY 3,036/mo ≈ $453	CNY 1,293/mo ≈ $193	57%
3-Bedroom	CNY 7,045/mo ≈ $1,051	CNY 4,033/mo ≈ $601	43%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Suzhou

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	CNY 13.40	1 source
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	CNY 7.22	1 source
Bread (500g)	CNY 15.97	1 source
Local cheese (1kg)	CNY 149.05	1 source
Chicken (1kg)	CNY 23.75	1 source
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	CNY 30.00	1 source
Milk (1L)	CNY 15.17	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	CNY 70.00	1 source

Apples (1kg)

CNY 13.40

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

CNY 7.22

Bread (500g)

CNY 15.97

Local cheese (1kg)

CNY 149.05

Chicken (1kg)

CNY 23.75

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

CNY 30.00

Milk (1L)

CNY 15.17

Wine (mid-range)

CNY 70.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	CNY 15.00	1 source
Cheap meal	CNY 30.00	1 source
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	CNY 260.00	1 source

Draft beer (0.5L)

CNY 15.00

Cheap meal

CNY 30.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

CNY 260.00

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	CNY 40.00	1 source
Gym membership	CNY 256.00	1 source

Cinema ticket

CNY 40.00

Gym membership

CNY 256.00

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	CNY 7.92	1 source
Taxi start	CNY 11.10	1 source
Monthly pass	CNY 300.00	1 source

Gasoline (1L)

CNY 7.92

Taxi start

CNY 11.10

Monthly pass

CNY 300.00

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	CNY 525.00	1 source
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	CNY 269.80	1 source

Sport shoes (Nike)

CNY 525.00

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

CNY 269.80

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	CNY 665.54	1 source

Basic utilities (85m²)

CNY 665.54

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★ Medium Confidence

Suzhou has a cost of living index of 21.1 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 2 of 3 data sources. Expatistan is left out because it sits more than 15% away from the others.

21.1

Index

Sources

5.3

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

23.7

Expatistan

30.0

left out

LivingCost

18.4

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

-7.9% Average

Rent

-13.9% Affordable

Groceries

-1.8% Average

Restaurants

+20.0% Expensive

Purchasing Power

+2.3% Average

Living in Suzhou: What to Expect

Suzhou is affordable by global standards (ranked #482 of 577 cities). It is 7.9% cheaper than the China average, based on 13 cities.

Groceries are average and dining out is expensive. The best value is rent and the priciest is restaurants.

Workers in China earning CNY 379,493 gross take home CNY 22,015/month after tax (30.4% effective rate). See full China tax calculator →

Cost of Living in Suzhou

Rent Prices in Suzhou

Prices of Goods & Services in Suzhou

Groceries

Restaurants

Leisure

Transportation

Clothing & Shoes

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in Suzhou: What to Expect

How Does Suzhou Compare?

Planning a Move to Suzhou?