Xi'an, China

Cost of Living in Xi'an, China

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Xi'an costs approximately $740 per month for one person including rent. That is 54% below the $1,620 global median across the 340 cities in the Voyica Cost of Living Index 2026. Against its own region, where the median is $891, Xi'an is cheaper than typical for Asia. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $311 per month, or $166 outside the centre. Day to day, an inexpensive restaurant meal runs about $2.89 and a monthly transit pass $35. For anyone weighing a longer stay, median internet speed is 156 Mbps and Xi'an scores 58/100 on safety (moderately safe). Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and exchange rates; figures come from crowd-sourced price data last refreshed June 2026. See the full Cost of Living Index →

Xi'an is a city in China, where a single person can expect to spend about $740 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $311 per month, or $166 outside the centre. Internet is fast at around 156 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Xi'an scores 58/100 — moderately safe for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 92°F and winter highs around 44°F, with roughly 173 sunny days a year.

Top for MuseumFamily friendly
Monthly Cost$740≈ $25/day
1BR Rent (Centre)$311
Internet156 Mbps
Safety58/100
Avg Temp68°F

Xi'an Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$2.89
Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$18.79
McDonald's Combo Meal$4.77
Cappuccino$2.33
Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$0.72
Bottled Water (Restaurant)$0.29

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$1.49
Bread (1 lb Loaf)$1.33
Eggs (12)$1.49
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$1.05
Apples (1 lb)$0.80
Bananas (1 lb)$0.49
Tomatoes (1 lb)$0.48
Potatoes (1 lb)$0.27
Water (1.5L Bottle)$0.54
Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$7.23
Cigarettes (Marlboro)$2.89

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$0.58
Monthly Transit Pass$34.68
Taxi Start$1.53
Taxi (1 Mile)$0.52
Gasoline (1 Liter)$1.13
VW Golf (New)$18,771.68

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$49.94
Mobile Phone Plan$5.85
Broadband Internet$12.71

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$33.48
Cinema Ticket$5.64
Preschool (Monthly)$565.99
Intl. Primary School (Annual)$18,689.79

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$53.44
Nike Running Shoes$65.35

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$310.90
Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$166.18
Rent 3BR (City Centre)$787.09
Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$351.16
Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$228.23
Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$144.32

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$1,076.33
Mortgage Interest Rate3.87%

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Xi'an

Internet156 Mbps
Safety58/100
Healthcare70/100
Public Transit72/100
Walkability55/100
Nightlife30/100
Food Scene88/100
Fine Dining8/100
Coffee Culture25/100
Air Quality30/100
Green Spaces45/100
Culture92/100
Beaches0/100
Hiking60/100
Surfing10/100
Coworking Spaces20

How Xi'an Ranks Among 340 Cities

Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Xi'an is cheaper than 89% of them, but sits in the bottom 3% for air quality.

MetricXi'anWorld rankRank in Asia
Monthly cost$740#35 of 340#20 of 65
Safety58/100#195 of 340#50 of 65
Healthcare70/100#155 of 340#23 of 65
Internet speed156 Mbps#183 of 340#33 of 65
Walkability55/100#166 of 340#26 of 65
Public transit72/100#53 of 340#17 of 65
Food scene88/100#40 of 340#19 of 65
Air quality30/100#332 of 340#60 of 65

Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.

Cheaper Alternatives to Xi'an

Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Xi'an.

Xi'an FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Xi'an?

A single person should budget around $740 per month in Xi'an, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs.

How much is rent in Xi'an?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Xi'an averages $311 per month, dropping to about $166 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $787.

Is Xi'an safe?

Xi'an scores 58/100 on safety, which is moderately safe. Tourist safety is rated 78/100.

How fast is the internet in Xi'an?

Median download speeds in Xi'an are around 156 Mbps — fast for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 20 coworking spaces in the city.

Does China offer a digital nomad visa?

China does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders should check current entry requirements before traveling.

What is the weather like in Xi'an?

Xi'an sees summer highs around 92°F and winter highs near 44°F, with about 173 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 63 days.

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