Cost Of Living For a Student in Kunming 2024
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: CNY
Average monthly spending for students in Kunming
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Kunming?
Students in Kunming spend around 6,400 CNY per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 980 CNY or as high as 43,000 CNY. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Kunming
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 37,000 CNY | 74,000 CNY | 99,000 CNY |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 1,100 CNY | 1,700 CNY | 4,400 CNY |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1,700 CNY | 2,700 CNY | 6,600 CNY |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2,200 CNY | 3,300 CNY | 8,900 CNY |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 220,000 CNY | 330,000 CNY | 660,000 CNY |
1-bedroom apartment
| 270,000 CNY | 440,000 CNY | 1.7M CNY |
2-bedroom apartment
| 440,000 CNY | 1.3M CNY | 2.7M CNY |
| $61,000 | $180,000 | $370,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 1,500 CNY | 1,800 CNY | 2,500 CNY |
Double Bed
| 990 CNY | 1,500 CNY | 1,800 CNY |
Single Bed
| 870 CNY | 1,100 CNY | 1,500 CNY |
Living Room
| 1,600 CNY | 2,100 CNY | 7,400 CNY |
Dining Table
| 740 CNY | 990 CNY | 1,800 CNY |
Sofa or Couch
| 990 CNY | 1,300 CNY | 3,000 CNY |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 990 CNY | 1,500 CNY | 3,000 CNY |
Fridge or Freezer
| 870 CNY | 1,300 CNY | 1,800 CNY |
Washing Machine
| 1,100 CNY | 1,600 CNY | 3,000 CNY |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,100 CNY | 1,300 CNY | 1,800 CNY |
Mobile Phone
| 1,200 CNY | 1,500 CNY | 2,100 CNY |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,300 CNY | 1,600 CNY | 3,000 CNY |
How do students spend their money in Kunming?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $33 240 CNY |
| AVERAGE | $210 1,500 CNY |
| HIGH | $1,400 10,000 CNY |
| Per Month |
Students in Kunming typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,500 CNY with expenditure ranging from 240 CNY to 10,000 CNY. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $5.5 39 CNY |
| AVERAGE | $36 260 CNY |
| HIGH | $240 1,700 CNY |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Kunming ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 260 CNY with 39 CNY and 1,700 CNY being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $9.5 69 CNY |
| AVERAGE | $63 450 CNY |
| HIGH | $420 3,000 CNY |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 69 CNY to 3,000 CNY in a month on commuting with 450 CNY being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $27 200 CNY |
| AVERAGE | $180 1,300 CNY |
| HIGH | $1,200 8,600 CNY |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Kunming is 1,300 CNY. The cost of groceries can range between 200 CNY to 8,600 CNY. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $8.2 59 CNY |
| AVERAGE | $54 390 CNY |
| HIGH | $360 2,600 CNY |
| Per Month |
Students in Kunming allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 59 CNY to 2,600 CNY with 390 CNY being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $6.8 49 CNY |
| AVERAGE | $45 320 CNY |
| HIGH | $300 2,100 CNY |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 49 CNY to 2,100 CNY with 320 CNY being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $26 190 CNY |
| AVERAGE | $170 1,200 CNY |
| HIGH | $1,100 8,200 CNY |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,200 CNY per month with 190 CNY being the minimum spent amount and 8,200 CNY being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $20 150 CNY |
| AVERAGE | $130 970 CNY |
| HIGH | $890 6,400 CNY |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Kunming
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Kunming?
Around 57% of surveyed students think that living in Kunming is affordable with proper budgeting while 43% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Kunming
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options51%
Few low-cost options49%
Based on the survey, 51% of the students living in Kunming have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 49% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Kunming whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes55%
No45%
Based on the survey, 45% of the students living in Kunming said that they don't have an emergency fund while 55% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in China
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy59%
We asked student guardians and parents in Kunming whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 41% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 59% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of China have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 37% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 63% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance37%
Easily manages finances63%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Kunming
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Kunming
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,100 CNY | 1,700 CNY | 4,400 CNY |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,700 CNY | 2,700 CNY | 6,600 CNY |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,200 CNY | 3,300 CNY | 8,900 CNY |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,700 CNY | 4,400 CNY | 12,000 CNY |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 5,300 CNY | 13,000 CNY | 27,000 CNY |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 4,400 CNY | 6,600 CNY | 19,000 CNY |
House monthly rent cost
| 5,300 CNY | 13,000 CNY | 27,000 CNY |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 6,600 CNY | 17,000 CNY | 27,000 CNY |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Kunming ranges between 1,100 CNY and 4,400 CNY, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,700 CNY to 6,600 CNY. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,200 CNY and 8,900 CNY per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,700 CNY to 12,000 CNY. The average rent of a townhouse in Kunming is around 6,600 CNY while house rental costs can be as high as 13,000 CNY per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 6,600 CNY to 27,000 CNY per month.
Apartment and house prices in Kunming
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 220,000 CNY | 330,000 CNY | 660,000 CNY |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 270,000 CNY | 440,000 CNY | 1.7M CNY |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 440,000 CNY | 1.3M CNY | 2.7M CNY |
| $61,000 | $180,000 | $370,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 1.5M CNY | 2.2M CNY | 6.6M CNY |
| $200,000 | $310,000 | $920,000 |
Townhouse price
| 1.9M CNY | 4.4M CNY | 17M CNY |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Kunming can range from 220,000 CNY to 660,000 CNY depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 270,000 CNY to 1.7M CNY. A villa can cost you 15M CNY on average with prices ranging from 2.7M CNY to 22M CNY.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Kunming will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 32 | x93 monthly income | 180 |
Property prices in Kunming can be x93 to x180 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x93 multiples of the average monthly salary in Kunming.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Kunming is around 27%. This means that people pay 27% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 35% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
24% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Kunming
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Kunming
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 260 CNY. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 74 CNY to 200 CNY with 150 CNY being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 99 CNY but can range between 59 CNY and 300 CNY depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Kunming is around 5.3%. This means that people pay 5.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.7% to 8.9% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Kunming
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Kunming
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Kunming is approximatly 30 CNY with meal cost ranging from 15 CNY to 49 CNY. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 47 CNY and 140 CNY with 70 CNY being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Kunming.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 94 CNY to 560 CNY with the average cost being 140 CNY for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Kunming.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Kunming is around 20 CNY. Price ranges between 12 CNY and 30 CNY depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Kunming is 12 CNY. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 15 CNY and the minimum being 9.9 CNY depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 9.9 CNY on average with 7.4 CNY and 15 CNY being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Kunming is between 17 CNY and 31 CNY depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 22 CNY.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 30 CNY. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Kunming costs around 11 CNY on average with prices rangeing between 7.9 CNY and 15 CNY depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 3 CNY to 7.4 CNY. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 6.9 CNY on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Kunming is around 23%. This means that students spend 23% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 16% to 28% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 200 CNY to 8,600 CNY with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
