Cost of Living in Hangzhou, China
Hangzhou, which translates to the “heaven of the earth”, is the capital city of Zhejiang province. It is situated in the southern part of the Yangtze River Delta, the western end of Hangzhou Bay and the lower reaches of the Qiantang River.
Hangzhou is a financial center, a traffic hub for southeast China and one of the wealthiest cities in the mainland. While Hangzhou has a slightly higher cost of living, it remains to be a cheaper alternative to its neighboring cities, namely, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou. With its prime location and peaceful ambiance, it is one of the cities in China with a large expat population.
Accommodation
A one-room decent apartment in Hangzhou costs less than US $150 monthly while a fully-furnished studio apartment less than $300 monthly.
Food
Hangzhou cuisine prominently makes use of pork and seafood. Meals in budget restaurants start at $0.88 to $2.64 for a serving of dumplings and vegetables. If you eat out with friends or reward yourself, dinner in a high-end Chinese restaurant costs about $30 per person.
Transportation
Denote tourist buses, locally known as “youke” ranges from $0.44 to $0.72. Buses charge $0.15 to 0.72 while air-conditioned ones $0.29 to $0.59. Taxis charge a flat rate of $2.46 for any destination under 3 km. Hangzhou has a cheap and extensive public bike system. Day rent runs from $43 plus a deposit of $29.
Utilities
Basic utilities such as water, electricity, garbage disposal, heating and cooling can cost between $46 to $100. Data and unlimited internet has an average rate of $13.
Education
Hangzhou offers quality education through top-tier universities such as Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhejiang International Studies University and Hangzhou Normal University. Depending on the program and the university, yearly tuition ranges from $2,500 to $7,000.
Miscellaneous expenses
$100 for clothes and personal care is enough to live comfortably in Hangzhou. For a night out or a movie with friends, a $50 budget will take you far in the city.
Average monthly cost of living
The average monthly cost of living in Hangzhou for a single person is $1,272.
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