How much money do you need in China (real numbers 2026)
China is cheaper than you think, but more expensive than Southeast Asia. You can eat a good lunch for 30-50 yuan (€4-7) and a decent hotel for 200-300 yuan (€27-40). But high-speed trains and internal flights increase the budget.
Actual daily budget
Backpacker (200-350 yuan / €27-47)
| Concept | Cost | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | 50-100 yuan | Hostel in Beijing |
| Food | 60-100 yuan | Street food + local restaurant |
| Transportation | 30-50 yuan | Metro + bus |
| Tickets | 30-50 yuan | Temples and museums |
| Total | 170-300 yuan | 23-40€ |
Average traveler (400-700 yuan / €54-95)
| Concept | Cost | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel | 200-350 yuan | 3 star hotel in Beijing |
| Food | 100-200 yuan | Restaurant + street food |
| Transportation | 50-100 yuan | Metro + taxi |
| Activities | 50-150 yuan | Great Wall, Forbidden City |
| Total | 400-800 yuan | 54-108€ |
Comfort (800-1,500 yuan / €108-202)
| Concept | Cost | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel | 500-800 yuan | 4 star hotel or boutique |
| Food | 200-400 yuan | Nice restaurants |
| Transportation | 100-200 yuan | High-speed train + taxi |
| Activities | 100-300 yuan | Guided tours, shows |
| Total | 900-1,700 yuan | 122-230€ |
How much does each thing cost
Meal
| Type | Price | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Street food | 10-30 yuan | Jianbing, baozi, noodles |
| Local restaurant | 40-80 yuan | Complete meal |
| Tourist restaurant | 100-200 yuan | In tourism areas |
| Special dinner | 200-500 yuan | Lacquered duck, premium dumplings |
Transport
| Type | Price | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Metro | 3-9 yuan | By way |
| Bus | 2-5 yuan | By trip |
| High speed train | 55-175 yuan | Beijing → Shanghai (4.5h) |
| Taxi (10 km) | 30-50 yuan | In city |
| DiDi (10 km) | 25-45 yuan | Similar to taxi |
Accommodation
| Type | Price/night | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | 50-100 yuan | Hostel |
| Private room | 100-200 yuan | Guesthouse |
| 3 star hotel | 200-400 yuan | In city |
| 4 star hotel | 400-800 yuan | Central area |
The drama of money in China: WeChat Pay and Alipay
95% of payments in China are mobile. WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate everything. Small businesses sometimes DO NOT accept cash.
How to pay without a card:
Option 1: WeChat Pay / Alipay with international card (RECOMMENDED)
- Link your Visa/Mastercard card to WeChat Pay or Alipay
- Pay by scanning QR codes
- Works in 90% of businesses
Option 2: Cash
- Arrive with 500-1000 yuan in cash
- Bank of China and ICBC ATMs accept foreign cards
- Problem: Many places do not give change
Option 3: Credit card
- Only in large hotels and tourist restaurants
- Does not work in small stores
ATMs in China
ATMs that DO work:
- ✅Bank of China
- ✅ ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China)
- ✅ China Construction Bank
- ✅ ATM in airports
Withdrawal fee:
- Chinese bank: 15-25 yuan per withdrawal + your bank charges more
- Wise: No Chinese commission, only 0.35% exchange
- Revolut: Free up to €200/month
My recommendation: Use WeChat Pay or Alipay if possible. If not, withdraw from Bank of China and minimize withdrawals.
How much cash to carry
Golden rule: Arrive with 500-1000 yuan (€67-135) in cash for emergencies. Set up WeChat Pay for the rest.
| Situation | Cash needed |
|---|---|
| Airport → Hotel | 100-200 yuan (train or taxi) |
| First day | 200-300 yuan |
| Emergencies | 300-500 yuan |
| Recommended total | 500-1000 yuan |
Mistakes that cost you money
- Not setting up WeChat Pay: You can't pay on most sites
- Exchange at the airport: The worst exchange rate
- Use your normal card: 3-5% commission
- Do not notify your bank: They block your card
- Rely on cash only: Many places do not accept
Money checklist
- ☐ WeChat Pay set up with linked card
- ☐ Alipay set as backup
- ☐ 500-1000 yuan cash
- ☐ Wise/Revolut activated
- ☐ Notified to your bank
- ☐ Currency conversion app installed
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