VanBasket China

Food Prices in China — November 2026

Name: China — VanBasket Food Price Index
Creator: OpenVan.camp
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Updated: 1 November 2026

Current Index

130.4

vs World Average

+30.4%

Official (IMF + World Bank)

Real grocery prices

Price per unit in your currency

Prices known for 4 of 10 items — help fill the rest

Milk 1 L

1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026

$2.03

+15% World (base = 100)
Eggs 12 pcs

1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026

$2.27

-34% World (base = 100)
Chicken 1 kg

1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026

$5.81

-1% World (base = 100)
Rice 1 kg

1 source open data · updated 1 Jan 2026

$1.22

-46% World (base = 100)
Bread 500 g loaf
Water 1.5 L bottle
Cheese 1 kg
Tomatoes 1 kg
Potatoes 1 kg
Beer 0.5 L bottle

Monthly basket, 1 person

Directional: 4 milk + 2 eggs + 4 chicken + 4 rice

$40.78

Know the prices in China?

Check your last receipt and send a couple of numbers — the next traveller gets a better page.

Every traveller price is reviewed by hand; the row shows how many reports from the last 90 days back the figure.

Data: WhereNext (CC BY 4.0, January 2026)

Report a price

Enter the price you actually saw in the shop.

Product

Price (€ EUR)

City (optional)

Comment (optional)

Reports are reviewed by hand — only what an editor confirms reaches the site.

Recent real receipts

Real purchases logged in this country (crowdsourced, local names)

原味压缩饼干

秦皇岛海洋食品有限公司 · 200g*20

京东, 北仑区 27 Aug deal

135 ¥
Dried scallops & dried shrimp roe noodles - fine

dashijie · 48g x 6

HKTVmall, 大埔 Tai Po 11 Jul

98 HK$
Vainilla Dream

Movenpick

富東廣場 Fu Tung Plaza, 香港 Hong Kong 27 Jun

98 HK$
Classic Series - Lava Custard Mooncakes 2025

Imperial Patisserie

皇玥 Imperial Patisserie, 香港島 Hong Kong Island 4 Oct deal

408 HK$
Mini Lava Custard Assorted Combo Gift Box

Imperial Patisserie

皇玥 Imperial Patisserie, 香港島 Hong Kong Island 4 Oct deal

188 HK$
Pink Coconut Water

natnat

百佳 PARKnSHOP, 屯門 Tuen Mun 1 Oct

28 HK$
Daydaylax

Fortune Pharmacal

百佳 PARKnSHOP, 屯門 Tuen Mun 20 Sep deal

223.5 HK$
Hi-Calcium No Sugar Original Soya Milk (250 mL x 6)

Vitasoy

百佳 PARKnSHOP, 九龍 Kowloon 9 Sep deal

27 HK$
Japanese style milk soft cake

Pando

優品360 Best Mart 360, 香港 Hong Kong 7 Sep

18 HK$
Plain Greek Style Yogurt

MÖVENPICK

百佳 PARKnSHOP, 小欖村 Siu Lam Tsuen 5 Sep

15 HK$
Chinese Baijiu with Osmanthus Snowy Mooncake

Saint Honore

聖安娜餅屋 Saint Honore Cake Shop, 香港島 Hong Kong Island 3 Sep

61 HK$
SHDL - 2025 Duffy & Friends Summer Ocean Collection x Duffy & Friends Chocolate Crunch Box Set

Disney

迪士尼旗舰店, 浦东新区 1 Sep

159 ¥
固力果炭燒百力滋家庭裝

Pretz

萬寧 Mannings, 麒麟圍 Kei Lun Wai 31 Aug deal

23.9 HK$
สาหร่ายเกาหลีถุงสีเขียวถุงเล็ก

Dongwon

HKTVmall, 新墟村 San Hui Village 31 Aug deal

41.9 HK$
Better Sandwich Bread Wholewheat 6 Slices

Garden

Taste, 屯門 Tuen Mun 31 Aug

15.9 HK$
绿得甘蔗汁植物饮料

绿得

闽江学院, 闽侯县 2 Sep

6 ¥
雀巢茶萃柠檬冻红茶果汁茶饮料

Nestea

闽江学院, 闽侯县 2 Sep

5 ¥
奈雪果茶青提香乌龙茶果汁茶饮料

奈雪的茶

闽江学院, 闽侯县 1 Sep deal

6.94 ¥
Nutella

Ferrero · 180

葵興商場 Kwai Hing Shopping Centre, 葵涌 Kwai Chung 3 Jul deal

44 HK$

Data: Open Food Facts — Open Prices (ODbL)

What this means for vanlife

Food in China is significantly more expensive — 30.4% above the world average. One of the pricier food destinations: the same basket costs around $391 per month (vs $300 world average).

How food prices are changing

Food overall: −1.2% over the year, as of June 2026

Jun 2023 Food price index, last 3 years Jun 2026

Official statistics: FAOSTAT, United Nations (food price index, CC BY 4.0), June 2026. Change versus the same month a year earlier. The index shows how prices moved, not what an item costs.

Index History

Index:

Based on World Bank ICP 2021, adjusted with IMF CPI

Compare with China

China

130.4

World (base = 100)

100

If you spend 100 at home:

100

Select home and destination countries to compare food costs

Similar Countries

Saudi Arabia 130.2 +30.2%

Ireland 130 +30%

Singapore 130.8 +30.8%

Italy 128.8 +28.8%

France 132.1 +32.1%

More countries in Asia

India 58.2 -41.8%

Nepal 61 -39%

Tajikistan 62 -38%

Myanmar 63 -37%

Bangladesh 65 -35%

Kyrgyzstan 65 -35%

FAQ

Is food expensive in China?

Yes, food in China is above average. The VanBasket Index is 130.4 (world average = 100), meaning food costs 30.4% more than the global average.

How much should I budget for food in China per month?

If the world average monthly food spend is $300, in China you can expect to spend around $391. This is based on the VanBasket Index of 130.4 (world = 100).

How does China compare to similar countries?

China has a VanBasket Index of 130.4. Similar or nearby countries: Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Singapore.

How often is the food price data for China updated?

The index is updated monthly using IMF Consumer Price Index data. The baseline is from World Bank ICP 2021.

About the data: The VanBasket Index is based on World Bank ICP 2021 food price level data, adjusted monthly using IMF CPI. World average = 100. Index > 100 means food is more expensive than the global average. API for developers →

All countries