Best Ways to Save Money in China 💰 Your Guide for 2026
The best ways to save money in China are to eat at local mom and pop restaurants, use Dianping deals, take buses and shared bikes, and shop on Taobao, JD and Pinduoduo.
You can also buy movie tickets through apps, use student discounts, live outside city centres, bargain at markets, and travel by train while avoiding Golden Week and Chinese New Year.
Savings of a few RMB each add up quickly over a month.
The standard of living in China is genuinely affordable compared to most Western countries and many other Asian cities like Singapore, Tokyo, or Seoul.
For UK and Western visitors, that gap is striking: a sit-down meal at a local noodle shop costs 15-25 RMB (roughly £1.60-£2.70), a metro ride starts at 2 RMB, and a comfortable mid-range hotel near a metro station runs 200-400 RMB per night.
To answer the questions we get asked most often: yes, $1,000 USD (around 6,700 RMB at current rates) is a lot of money in China.
For a short trip, $1,000 is more than enough for a week, and a two-week trip on a mid-range budget typically costs $800-$1,500 USD all-in, depending on your accommodation tier and intercity travel.
For international students, a realistic monthly living budget usually sits between 3,000 and 6,000 RMB (excluding tuition). Outside the central districts of Beijing or Shanghai, 7,000 RMB easily covers a full month of comfortable living, including a shared flat, food, and transport.
China is a popular destination for expats hoping to save money over a few years before returning home.
But rents and food prices do rise every year, so it pays to be smart about where you spend. For those on a student budget, we have put together our favourite tips below.
Take the Bus! 坐公交车吧 (Zuògōngjiāochē ba)！
Or Sign up for Mobike (摩拜 móbài, now called Meituan Bike)
Become a Táobǎo/Jīngdōng expert.
Student Discounts and Free Activities
Save Money in China Tip #1 – Use 大众点评 Dàzhòngdiǎnpíng
One of our favourite money-saving apps in China is 大众点评 (Dàzhòngdiǎnpíng), similar in concept to Yelp or OpenRice but with one big extra: built-in restaurant deals.
What makes this app better those in other countries is that in addition to offering reviews and menus of restaurants in your cities according to type, they also will include deals that the restaurants offers you.
Deals generally fall into three categories:
- 套餐 – tàocān, set menu
- 代金券 – dàijīnjuàn, akin to a coupon
- 买单 – mǎidān, to pay the bill
Some are time dependent, only available on certain days of the week or times of the day.
Dianping also has a “social media” component on the homepage where you can what other foodie’s are eating.
The Dianping social feed is a great way to discover new foods in your area or around your city.
HACK – 代金券 (Dàijīnjuàn) are probably the most confusing of 大众点评’s offerings, but usually the most lucrative. For example, If you buy one worth 100 yuan, it will cost you only 80 yuan (depending on the type of coupon). This way you can get 20 yuan of your meal. This works especially well if you’re having a big meal with friends, but check how many of these coupons you can buy.
CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE – Learn how to master Dianping in minutes.
Save Money in China Tip #2 – Mom and Pop Restaurants
Don’t forget that some of China’s most amazing food can be on found on food streets.
Although with the local governments’ initiatives to clean up cities, food streets are disappearing.
These days chain restaurants in malls can offer some really high-quality and relatively cheap meals (30-40 yuan).
However, the tastiest dishes with the most character can be found in little mom and pop restaurants located near residential neighbourhoods. Even in major cities, you can still find meals for under 20 yuan there.
Avoid fast food chains you recognise from home: in China they are priced for the local premium market, not the budget one, so a meal at a Western fast food outlet often costs 50-70 RMB versus 15-25 RMB at a local shop.
The same logic applies to coffee. A Starbucks latte in a Chinese city costs much the same as back home. Local chains like Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡, Ruìxìng Kāfēi) or Cotti Coffee charge 9-15 RMB for a similarly good cup, and their apps regularly push discount coupons too.
For evenings out, choosing local drinks over imported ones makes a real difference. A bottle of local beer (like Tsingtao/青岛 or Snow/雪花) at a bar costs 10-20 RMB; imported craft beers or Western spirits at expat bars can run 60-100 RMB.
Local Chinese spirits (白酒, báijiǔ) are also very affordable, though we will leave that discovery to you! 🍺
HACK – Speaking of food, restaurant delivery apps like 饿了么 (Èleme) and 美团外卖 (Měituán Wàimài) often have discounts when you order through their app (满减, mǎnjiǎn: spend a certain amount, get a set amount deducted). A great way to get cheap eats delivered to your door.
Save Money in China Tip #3 – Take the Bus! 坐公交车吧 (Zuògōngjiāochē ba)！
There are so many reasons to take the bus in China, and one of them is that it tends to be cheaper than the subway (anywhere from 1 kuai to 3 kuai, although some distance-based fare buses will set you back more).
This compares to around 2-3 kuai as the starting price for the subway. A single kuai may not seem like a lot, but it can add up over time!
💡 Currency quick tip: In spoken Chinese, prices use kuài (块) rather than the formal yuán (元). For fractional coins, one-tenth of a yuan is formally a jiǎo (角), but everyday colloquial speech calls it máo (毛). For example, 1.50 RMB is commonly spoken as yī kuài wǔ (1块5).
In big cities, taking the bus is one of the most convenient modes of getting around.
If it’s not rush hour or a super busy time, you’ll usually be able to find a seat (unlike on the subway).
Often, the bus can even get you to a place faster without transfers. It’s also a great way to observe the cityscape.
Map apps like Bǎidù (百度） and Gāodé （高德）can help you figure out what buses go to your destination.
HACK – Forget the days of looking for loose change! Most bus systems (city-dependent) let you pay with WeChat or Alipay mini-programs (小程序, xiǎochéngxù), so no coins needed.
If you are visiting China as a foreigner, the good news is that both Alipay and WeChat Pay now let you link an international Visa or Mastercard directly, without needing a Chinese bank account. Download the app, verify your passport, add your card, and you are ready. Mobile payment is accepted almost everywhere: restaurants, supermarkets, taxis, vending machines, and yes, buses.
TIP💡 Check the in-app vouchers before you pay: Once your card is linked, open the coupon or offers section in Alipay and WeChat Pay before you head out. Both apps regularly push discount vouchers for restaurants, coffee chains, supermarkets and transport, and many are applied automatically at checkout when you scan to pay.
It takes seconds and the small savings add up over a month.
TIP💡 Avoiding the 3% foreign-card fee: Both apps charge a 3% processing fee on individual transactions above 200 RMB when paid via an international card. Keep single payments under 200 RMB where you can, and the fee is waived. For larger purchases, consider topping up an Alipay or WeChat wallet from a linked Chinese bank account if you have one, as wallet-to-merchant transfers carry no fee.
Should you carry cash (现金, xiànjīn) at all?
Yes, keep a small amount of RMB on hand as a backup. Mobile payments dominate in cities, but smaller towns, rural markets, and some older transport systems still prefer or require cash. Around 200-500 RMB in notes is a sensible safety buffer for most trips.
Save Money in China Tip #4 – Or Sign up for Mobike (摩拜 móbài, now called Meituan Bike)
Meituan Bike (美团单车, Měituán Dānchē), formerly Mobike, has won the bike-sharing market in most Chinese cities.
Meituan Bike is a genuinely cheap way to cover those distances that are too far to walk but too short to bother with the metro: a typical 30-minute ride costs around 1.5-2.5 RMB, and monthly passes start from approximately 25 RMB.
Dīdī (滴滴) also operates shared bikes in many cities and you can unlock them from the Dīdī app directly. Dīdī is better known as China’s ride-hailing app (think Uber): when you need a taxi rather than a bike, Dīdī shows you a fixed price before you confirm the ride, which protects you from overcharging. For city-to-city taxi needs, see Tip #9.
Both Meituan Bike and Dīdī bikes can be scanned via their respective apps or through a WeChat mini-app (微信小程序, Wēixìn xiǎochéngxù).
Save Money in China Tip #5 – Become a Táobǎo/Jīngdōng expert.
Taobao (淘宝, Táobǎo) and Jingdong / JD.com (京东, Jīngdōng) are not only good for getting household items on the cheap, but you can also find affordable clothing and foreign food products on both platforms.
JD frequently offers free shipping and discounts when you spend above a threshold, so it is worth stocking up on non-perishables in one order.
Want even cheaper?
Try Pinduoduo (拼多多, Pīnduōduō), which works on a group-buying model: the more people who order together, the lower the unit price. It is particularly good for groceries, household essentials, and basic clothing at prices that undercut Taobao.
For second-hand electronics, furniture, or a used bicycle, check out Xianyu (闲鱼, Xiányú), Alibaba’s second-hand marketplace. Students setting up a flat can save thousands of RMB buying a second-hand desk, monitor, or air purifier here versus buying new.
For everyday essentials in person, Miniso (名创优品, Míngchuàng Yōupǐn) is everywhere in Chinese cities and sells travel-sized toiletries, stationery, kitchenware, and accessories at very low prices.
PRO-TIP💡 For fresh produce, skip the supermarket and head to the local wet market (菜市场, càishìchǎng). Vegetables, fruit, meat, and tofu are significantly fresher and cheaper than in imported or international grocery chains. In most Chinese cities, eating out at a good local noodle or rice shop (15-25 RMB) can actually be cheaper than cooking at home once you factor in ingredients, gas, and time, so it is worth comparing both rather than assuming cooking always wins.
Build a Realistic Monthly Budget
Shopping smart only works if you know what you can spend. Before you hit Taobao or Pinduoduo, split your monthly money into four simple categories:
- Rent: Your biggest fixed cost. A university dormitory (宿舍, sùshè) or a shared flat (合租, hézū) keeps this low (see Tip #7).
- Groceries and food: Wet markets plus local noodle and rice shops (15-25 RMB a meal) keep this category under control.
- Transit: Buses, the metro (from 2 RMB) and shared bikes, plus a small buffer for the occasional late-night Dīdī.
- Leisure: Cinema, nights out, weekend trips and shopping. Whatever is left after the first three goes here.
TIP💡 Most international students find a realistic monthly living budget of 3,000-6,000 RMB (excluding tuition). Set your fixed costs first, then check your Alipay or WeChat Pay bill history once a week to see where the rest is going.
Save Money in China Tip #6 – Never buy a Movie Ticket at the Cinema!
Going to the movies in China is a lot cheaper than most Western countries, including tickets and popcorn.
Buy your tickets through social media app WeChat, Alipay, or Dàzhòng Diǎnpíng for the cheapest prices.
You can also pick up on some great deals for snacks!
Save Money in China: Student Discounts and Free Activities
If you have a student ID (either a Chinese university card or an international ISIC card), carry it everywhere. Most major museums across Chinese cities are free or heavily discounted for students, and scenic spots and national parks that charge foreigners full price will often give students a 50% reduction.
It is worth asking 有学生票吗? (Yǒu xuéshēng piào ma? = ‘Do you have student tickets?’) whenever you arrive somewhere ticketed.
Beyond discounts, Chinese cities offer a huge amount to do for free:
- Public parks (公园, gōngyuán): Most municipal parks charge nothing or a token 1-2 RMB. Head there in the morning and you will find locals doing Tai Chi (太极拳, tàijí quán), group dancing, and exercise on free outdoor gym equipment. It is one of the most authentic ways to experience daily Chinese life.
- Historic neighbourhoods and walking streets: Hutongs (胡同, hútòng) in Beijing, old town alleyways in Chengdu and Xi’an, and waterfront promenades in coastal cities cost nothing to explore and are genuinely fascinating.
- Free city museums: Many municipal and district-level museums in China have free entry; national-level museums like the National Museum in Beijing are free with passport registration.
- Night markets and food streets: Even if you are not buying, wandering evening food markets is lively, free entertainment. And when you do buy, the prices are very low.
💡 These free options are also fantastic for your Mandarin. You will hear natural, unscripted Chinese everywhere, and locals are almost always happy to chat.
Save Money in China Tip #7 – Live in the Suburbs for Cheaper Rent
Like in any city in the world, rent is cheaper the farther you get from the centre.
If you work near a metro line, living two or three stops outside the city core can cut your rent by 30-50% with almost no lifestyle cost.
For short-term travellers, this same logic applies to booking hotels: staying near a convenient metro station rather than directly beside major tourist attractions will save you a substantial amount.
For students, the cheapest option is often a university dormitory (宿舍, sùshè), which typically runs 500-1,500 RMB per month including utilities. The next step up is a shared flat (合租, hézū): you split a two- or three-bedroom apartment with flatmates, bringing per-person rent down significantly compared to renting solo in a central location.
Teachers and programme participants should also check whether their school or employer offers a housing stipend (住房补贴, zhùfáng bǔtiē). Many do, and if you choose cheaper accommodation you keep the difference.
💡 City choice matters as much as neighbourhood. Beijing and Shanghai are the priciest markets; cities like Chengdu, Xi’an, or Beihai cost considerably less. You can choose your city in China based on your budget and goals.
One trade-off worth knowing: public transport in China does wind down late at night. If you plan to be out regularly in the city centre, factor in the occasional Dīdī (滴滴) fare when choosing how far out to live.
500+ Chinese Vocabulary 📚Your Complete List
Chinese Vocabulary: Food, Shopping, Colors, Numbers, Sports and MORE! Learn from over 50 categories of Chinese Vocabulary to get by in China.
Save Money in China Tip #8 – Bargain!
A lot of foreigners who come to China are not too familiar with the concept of bargaining.
Once you get the hang of bargaining, you may not be able to stop. Bargaining is usually acceptable if prices aren’t listed, often in areas like street, electronics, and clothing markets.
Common advice for newbie bargainers: research reasonable prices for products you’re interested in beforehand (Taobao is a good place for price comparison) and decide what you are willing to pay before you start.
Another popular bargaining strategy is walking away when the seller won’t budge anymore.
Watch out for places that get lots of tourists, where starting prices can be outrageous. 💸
Bargaining can be fun and a great way to practice Chinese, but remember to be respectable; the sellers are trying to make a living, after all.
Don’t try bargaining in a mall or a supermarket!
Bonus Hack: Travelling
If you have some time off, you will want to travel around China.
There are truly amazing destinations, but travel costs can add up fast if you are not careful.
Trains vs. flights: For distances under 4-5 hours by high-speed rail (高铁, gāotiě), trains are almost always the better value. A Beijing-to-Shanghai high-speed ticket booked in advance costs around 550 RMB second class, while a last-minute flight on the same route can easily top 1,000 RMB before baggage fees. For longer distances where flying makes sense, check budget carriers like Spring Airlines (春秋航空, Chūnqiū Hángkōng) for domestic routes.
For overnight journeys, the classic sleeper train (卧铺, wòpù) is still one of the best budget moves: a hard sleeper berth (硬卧, yìngwò) typically costs 100-200 RMB less than a daytime high-speed ticket on the same route, and you save a night’s accommodation at the same time.
Book trains and domestic flights on Trip.com (formerly Ctrip), which has a full English interface and English-language customer support. That is very useful if plans change.
TIP💡 Avoid Golden Week and Chinese New Year. The national holiday in early October (黄金周, Huángjīn Zhōu) and Chinese New Year / Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié) are the two periods when transport and accommodation prices spike dramatically and availability disappears.
Plan your city-hopping around these dates, or book very early if you must travel during them. Check out Chinese National Holidays to plan ahead.
Inside cities, use Dīdī (滴滴) as your taxi alternative: it shows you a fixed price before you confirm, so there are no meter surprises. Use it for late-night journeys when buses have stopped, or when you are carrying luggage. For daily commuting, though, metro and bus remain much cheaper.
There we have it, nine super useful hacks for cheaper living in China!
What was your favourite? Drop us a comment below telling us your favourite hack. Maybe we missed a trick? Tell us below and we’ll add it!
Knowing even basic Mandarin changes how much you pay for things in China. You can read menus, follow delivery app prompts, bargain with confidence, and access local prices rather than tourist prices. It is one of the most practical investments you can make before or during your stay.
Find your perfect Mandarin program across our schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Beihai, and more. Not sure which city or format fits your budget? Build Your Dream Program and we will put together the options that work for you.
Save Money in China – FAQs
Which is the most expensive city to live in China?
Whilst it depends on your individual lifestyle, Shanghai is generally considered the most expensive city in China to live in.
Can I travel cheaply in China?
Absolutely!
Using the bus, slower trains, overnight transport and the metro are just some of the ways that allow for cheap transport.
What is a ‘good wage’ in China?
This question depends on a lot of factors, including where you live, your hobbies and lifestyle, whether or not you have any dependents, etc.
For instance, 15,000 RMB in somewhere like Shenyang would be considered a very good salary, whilst 15,000 RMB in Shanghai would be considered on the lower end of the scale.
Is Chengdu a cheap place to live?
Chengdu is widely considered a great place for foreigners to live in China due its relatively lower cost of living compared to top-tier cities – and that’s without considering the great weather, delicious food and slower pace of life.
Is Western food cheap in China?
Generally speaking, Western food in China is more expensive than local food, but the quality of the restaurant is an important factor.
Do you have to tip in China?
No, tipping is not a common practice in China.
Do English teachers earn a lot of money in China?
Generally yes, English teachers can earn a very high salary in China, especially in larger cities and in international or private schools.
Is $1,000 a lot of money in China?
Yes, $1,000 USD (around 6,700 RMB at current exchange rates) is a significant sum in China.
Outside the most expensive central districts of Beijing and Shanghai, 7,000 RMB covers a comfortable month of student living, including a shared-flat room, daily meals at local restaurants, and all transport costs. In smaller or mid-tier cities like Chengdu or Xi’an it goes even further.
Is $1,000 enough for a week in China?
More than enough for most travellers.
A comfortable week in China, covering a mid-range hotel near a metro line, three meals a day at local restaurants, metro and bus transport, and a couple of day trips, typically costs $300-$500 USD.
You would need to spend heavily on high-end hotels, domestic flights, and guided tours to get close to $1,000 in a single week.
How much should I budget for 2 weeks in China?
A realistic two-week budget depends on your travel style. Budget travellers staying in hostels or cheaper guesthouses and eating locally can manage on $500-$700 USD.
A mid-range trip with decent hotels, some high-speed train journeys, and a mix of eating out can run $900-$1,400 USD.
Factor in any large-ticket experiences like guided national park visits or overnight sleeper trains, which are enjoyable but add to the total.
How do I avoid the 3% transaction fee in China?
Alipay and WeChat Pay charge a 3% processing fee on individual transactions above 200 RMB when paid with an international card.
Keeping single payments under 200 RMB means the fee is waived. For larger purchases, topping up your wallet from a linked Chinese bank account avoids the fee, as wallet-to-merchant transfers carry no charge.
Is it better to take cash or card to China?
Mobile payment through Alipay or WeChat Pay, linked to an international Visa or Mastercard, is the most convenient option and is accepted almost everywhere in Chinese cities.
You should still carry a small amount of cash as a backup, since smaller towns, rural markets and some older transport systems prefer or require it. Around 200-500 RMB in notes is a sensible safety buffer for most trips.
Is China expensive for UK tourists?
No, China is generally affordable for UK and other Western visitors.
A sit-down meal at a local noodle shop costs 15-25 RMB, a metro ride starts at 2 RMB, and a comfortable mid-range hotel near a metro station runs 200-400 RMB per night. Costs rise if you stick to Western chains, imported drinks or travel during Golden Week and Chinese New Year.
Want more from LTL?
If you wish to hear more from LTL Language School why not join our mailing list? We give plenty of handy information on learning Chinese, useful apps to learn the language and everything going on at our LTL schools!
Sign up below and become part of our ever-growing community!
⭐ Download our free ebook, your starter pack of essential Mandarin learning resources!
BONUS || Want to study Chinese with us in China? Why not check out our group and individual classes here
3 comments
I found China really cheap except Shanghai which is far more indicative of western costs
Yes Curt, in general it's actually a pretty cheap place to live but for sure it does depends on where you are.
Outside of the big few, it can be really affordable.
[…] to book some train tickets through the App itself? Use […]