Qingdao ranks 3rd of 11 priced cities in China on cost — $452 a month in essentials, 6% above Chongqing, the cheapest. The average net salary of $1,199 covers that 2.7×. 109.5 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at prefecture level. PM2.5 averages 31.8 µg/m³ a year, 6× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages 1°C, Aug 27°C.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $196 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $347 |
| Groceries | $90 |
| Dining out | $71 |
| Utilities | $77 |
| Local transport | $18 |
| Essentials / mo | $452 |
| Avg net salary | $1,199 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $421 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $747 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 29, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Qingdao, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $2.96 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $17.73 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $4.43 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $2.81 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $1.03 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $2.96 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $0.54 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $0.31 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $2.00 |
| White bread, 500 g | $1.37 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $1.00 |
| Eggs, 12 | $1.30 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $16.07 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $4.29 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $1.41 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.16 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $1.27 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $0.69 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $0.92 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $0.62 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $0.30 |
| Monthly transit pass | $17.73 |
| Taxi start | $1.48 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.42 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.24 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $68.20 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $8.50 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $6.85 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $28.08 |
| Cinema, one seat | $6.65 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Qingdao has 109.5 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (prefecture level). That is the 8th-highest of 12 China cities we track. China's national figure is 112.8, so Qingdao runs 3 below the country as a whole.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
Climate & air
Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg | Feels | Humidity | Cloud | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.2°C | -3.8°C | 64% | 46% | 11 mm |
| Feb | 2.6°C | -2.2°C | 64% | 47% | 16 mm |
| Mar | 7.5°C | 3.4°C | 65% | 46% | 21 mm |
| Apr | 12.4°C | 9.3°C | 67% | 52% | 32 mm |
| May | 17.5°C | 16.1°C | 71% | 54% | 43 mm |
| Jun | 21.9°C | 23.1°C | 80% | 59% | 80 mm |
| Jul | 25.8°C | 29.6°C | 86% | 61% | 208 mm |
| Aug | 26.9°C | 30.9°C | 81% | 55% | 167 mm |
| Sep | 23.3°C | 24.6°C | 73% | 48% | 74 mm |
| Oct | 17°C | 15.2°C | 65% | 46% | 43 mm |
| Nov | 10.6°C | 7.1°C | 66% | 47% | 30 mm |
| Dec | 3.3°C | -1.6°C | 63% | 41% | 11 mm |
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