How much does food cost per day in China for tourists?

Daily food costs in China vary significantly by city and dining preferences: Budget travelers can eat for CNY 50-80 (USD 7-11) per day with street food and local eateries; Mid-range travelers typically spend CNY 150-300 (USD 21-42) per day on a mix of local restaurants and occasional nicer meals; Luxury travelers may spend CNY 500+ (USD 70+) per day on fine dining and premium experiences. First-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai are 20-30% more expensive than second-tier cities like Xi'an and Chengdu.

What are typical street food prices in major Chinese cities?

Street food prices in major Chinese cities are very affordable: Beijing - Jianbing (savory crepe) CNY 8-12, Baozi (steamed buns) CNY 2-4 each; Shanghai - Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) CNY 15-25 for 6 pieces, Shengjianbao CNY 12-18 for 4 pieces; Xi'an - Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) CNY 10-15, Biangbiang noodles CNY 15-20; Chengdu - Dan dan noodles CNY 12-18, Spicy skewers CNY 2-5 each. Street food is generally 50-70% cheaper than restaurant dining.

How much does a meal cost in local Chinese restaurants?

Local Chinese restaurant meal costs vary by city tier: First-tier cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) - CNY 40-80 (USD 5.50-11) per person for a complete meal with 2-3 dishes; Second-tier cities (Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Chongqing) - CNY 30-60 (USD 4.20-8.40) per person; Third-tier and smaller cities - CNY 20-40 (USD 2.80-5.50) per person. Sharing dishes family-style is the norm, making group dining more economical per person.

What are the price differences between Chinese cities for dining?

Food prices show clear tier-based differences across Chinese cities: First-tier cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) have the highest prices, with restaurant meals costing 25-35% more than second-tier cities; Second-tier cities (Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Nanjing) offer good value with moderate prices and excellent food quality; Third-tier and smaller cities provide the best value, with prices 30-40% lower than first-tier cities while maintaining authentic local flavors and generous portions.

Do I need to tip in Chinese restaurants?

Tipping is not customary or expected in Chinese restaurants. Service charges are rarely added to bills, and leaving extra money may confuse staff who might try to return it thinking you overpaid. However, high-end international hotels and Western restaurants in major cities may include a 10-15% service charge automatically. For exceptional service in upscale establishments, a small tip of CNY 10-20 is appreciated but never required.

How can I save money on food while traveling in China?

Effective ways to save money on food in China include: Eat at local neighborhood restaurants rather than tourist areas; Choose street food and night markets for authentic, cheap meals; Share dishes family-style with travel companions; Avoid Western food and international chains which cost 2-3 times more; Use food delivery apps like Meituan or Ele.me for discounts; Visit university areas where student-friendly restaurants offer quality food at low prices; Order from picture menus or use translation apps to avoid expensive tourist traps.

Cost of Meals in China: A 2026 Food Type and Price Guide

Written by Natalia | Updated May 09,2026

Wondering how much a meal really costs in China and how much money you should set aside for food when traveling in China? Chinese cuisine is incredibly varied and the prices can vary quite a bit depending on the city and whether you’re eating street food, dining at a mid-range spot, or visiting a high-end restaurant. Usually, the average cost of three ordinary meals per day is CNY 50 – 200/USD 7 – 30.

To help you plan according to your budget, this guide provides a breakdown of average meal costs across different meal categories, dining venues and cities.

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Quick Overview: Average Meal Costs in China
Types of Meals and Their Costs in China
Breakdown of Meal Costs by Meal Type
Cost of Eating Out in Different Chinese Cities
Useful Tips for Dining in China
Plan Your China Food Tour with Us
FAQs about Food Cost in China

Quick Overview: Average Meal Costs in China

Average Daily Food Cost in China

Type	Budget (Street/Local)	Mid-Range	High-End
breakfast	CNY 5 – 12/USD 0.7 – 2	CNY 15 – 30/USD 2 – 4	CNY 50 – 150+/USD 7 – 22+
lunch	CNY 10 – 25/USD 1.5 – 4	CNY 30 – 60/USD 4 – 9	CNY 100 – 300+/USD 15-44+
dinner	CNY 15 – 30/USD 2 – 4	CNY 50 – 100/USD 7 – 15	CNY 200 – 800+/USD 29-118+
street food	CNY 5 – 15/USD 0.7 – 2	CNY 15 – 30/USD 2 – 4	CNY 30 – 60+/USD 4 – 9

What Influences the Cost of Meals in China

Regional differences: In general, the price of food in Tier 1 cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou is higher than that in Tier 2 and 3 cities. And the hot tourism cities have higher prices than other cities.
Type of restaurants: The price of street food is the lowest at about CNY 5 – 15/USD 0.7 – 2. While in fast food restaurants, mid-range and local restaurants, the cost is a little bit higher, which is about CNY 15 – 40/USD 2 – 6. The most expensive is the high-end restaurants and private home cuisine, which are over CNY 100/USD 15.

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Types of Meals and Their Costs in China

How Much Does Street Food Cost in China?

Classic street food in China:
- Common food: Baozi, Jianbing, Roujiamo, dumplings, hot and sour rice noodles;
- Regional dishes: Wontons and small buns in the south and the skewered meats in the west
Average cost: CNY 5 – 15/USD 1 – 2 per dish
Features: Delicious, affordable and abundant choices

Fast Food and Chain Restaurants

Popular restaurants:
- Chinese restaurants: Micunban Rice, Lao Xiang Ji, Kunfu and Country Style Cooking Restaurant;
- Western restaurants: KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Yoshinoya
Average cost: Chinese fast food: CNY 20 – 40/USD 3 – 6; Western fast food: CNY 30 – 100/USD 4 – 15
Features: Cover both Chinese and foreign food, Chinese chains mainly offer stir-fried dishes served together with rice and feature a good value for money, while Western chains offer standard service and common Western fast food.

Traditional Chinese Restaurants

Representative dishes: Beijing roast duck, copper pot hot pot, braised pork in brown sauce, including both royal and local cuisines.
Average cost: CNY 50 – 500/USD 7 – 74, varies according to the types of restaurants
Features: Emphasizes seasonality and regionality, cooked with local ingredients, and most restaurants are uniquely decorated with traditional elements

Dining at Buffets in China

Common buffets: Barbecue, skewers, seafood and hotpot, expanded to noodles, dumplings, desserts, pastries, western fast food, Japanese cuisines, and community canteen in recent years
Average cost: CNY 30 – 200/USD 4 – 29, varies according to the types of restaurant
Features: Abundant choices, including local specialties. The price is about 30% lower during lunchtime than dinner time in some restaurants.

Fine Dining and Specialty Dishes

Main Types: Imperial cuisines, Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end regional cuisines, luxury famous dishes, cultural theme restaurants, and high-end buffets
Average cost: the highest, CNY 500 – 5000+/USD 74 – 735+per meal
Features: Better service and environments, each type has its own characteristics.

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Breakdown of Meal Costs by Meal Type

Average Cost of Breakfast in China

In the table below, the most common Chinese breakfast, local specialty breakfast and popular Western breakfast and their costs are all included. Among them, baozi and congee are the most classic combination. Baozi is especially popular because of its various kinds of stuffings from vegetables to meat. Congee, rice porridge, also has different types in different regions. The traditional ones include millet porridge, pumpkin porridge, eight-treasure porridge, etc.

Common Breakfast	Cost
Baozi	CNY 1 – 4.5/USD 0.2 – 0.7
Youtiao (deep-fried dough stick)	CNY 1 – 4/USD 0.2 – 0.6
Small steamed bun	CNY 5 – 25/USD 0.7 – 4
Congee	CNY 2 – 6/USD 0.3 – 0.9
Soybean milk	CNY 2 – 7/USD 0.3 – 1
Bean curd jelly	CNY 3 – 5/USD 0.4 – 0.7
Local Specialty Breakfast
Roujiamo	CNY 6 – 15/USD 0.9 – 2
Steamed vermicelli roll	CNY 4 – 15/USD 0.6 – 2
Rice noodles	CNY 7 – 15/USD 1 – 2
Western Breakfast
Breads	CNY 2 – 10/USD 0.3 – 1.5
Sandwiches	CNY 5 – 15/USD 0.7 – 2
Milk	CNY 3 – 10/USD 0.4 – 1.5

How Much is Lunch in China?

Lunch in China is the main meal and is enjoyed with a variety of staple foods, such as rice and steamed buns. Because of the convenience and abundance, the classic Chinese lunch, set meals, has been very popular. It often pairs rice or steamed buns with hot dishes including meal dishes and vegetable dishes to balance the diet. It is widely available in restaurants, food courts, and street stalls. Refer to the table below for the cost of set meals and other classic Chinese lunches.

Dumplings in a spicy red chili oil with cilantro garnish in a blue-rimmed bowl on a wooden table. — Sour Soup Dumplings

Common Lunch	Cost
Set meals/bento boxes	CNY 15 – 30/USD 2 – 4
Noodles	CNY 10 – 25/USD 1.5 – 4
Dumplings	CNY 10 – 35/USD 1.5- 5
Hot and sour soup	CNY 5 – 15/USD 0.7 – 2
Wonton soup	CNY 6 – 20/USD 0.9 – 3
Rice (a la carte)	CNY 1 – 8/USD 0.2 – 1.2
Steamed buns (a la carte)	CNY 0.5 – 4/USD 0.08 – 0.6

Dinner Prices: How Much Does a Dinner Cost in China

Dinner is more abundant in China. Locals prefer to have dinner at a street vendor or a small local restaurant to enjoy cost-effective meals, like noodles, fried rice, etc. The fast food and chain restaurants are also popular choices, since the taste of the dishes is better and the cost is not too high. Sometimes, a big dinner, such as hot pot, will also be enjoyed after a day of hard work.

Common Dinner	Cost
Fried rice	CNY 10 – 50/USD 1.5 – 7
Fast food	CNY 20 – 100/USD 3 – 15
Skewers	CNY 40 – 80/USD 6 – 12
Hot pot	CNY 50 – 100/USD 7 – 15
Seafood	CNY 80 – 400/USD 12 – 59
International or fusion cuisine	CNY 50 – 300/USD 7 – 44

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Beverage Prices

The beverage in China is quite abundant. And you can see the milk tea shops and cafes everywhere in tier 1 and 2 cities. Here are the costs of popular chain milk tea shops and cafes in China and regional characteristic tea beverages. The various kinds of milk tea are worth trying.

Popular Cafes and Milk Tea Shops	Cost
Cafes
Luckin & Cotti	CNY 10 – 25/USD 1.5 – 4
Starbucks & Tims	CNY 25 – 45/USD 4 – 7
Manner & Arabica	CNY 40 – 60/USD 6 – 9
Milk Tea Shops
Mixue Ice Cream & Tea	CNY 4 – 12/USD 0.6 – 2
Heytea	CNY 15 – 28/USD 2 – 4
Nayuki’ Tea	CNY 10 – 30/USD 1.5 – 4
Regional Characteristic Tea Beverages
Cha Yan Yue Se (Changsha)	CNY 15 – 30/USD 2 – 4
Cha Hua Nong (Xian)	CNY 13 – 20/USD 2 – 3
Fang Ha (Lanzhou)	CNY 10 – 20/USD 1.5 – 3

Cost of Eating Out in Different Chinese Cities

Hong Kong Food Price Guide

The type of food in Hong Kong is quite different from that in the Mainland of China. But it also covers street food, fast food and mid-range to high-end dining. For budget eats, classic snacks and staples, like Curry Fish Balls and Cart Noodles, cost about HKD 12 – 25/USD 1.5 – 3.

Cha Chaan Teng and fast food restaurants offer diverse dishes, like the classic Wonton Noodles and Char Siu Rice, making them popular local spots for dining. A meal ranges from HKD 50 to 150/USD 6 – 19.

In addition, the local specialty high-end restaurants feature signature dishes, such as the roast goose in Yung Kee Restaurant and dim sum in Tim Ho Wan, and a higher cost, about HKD 150 – 500 +/USD 19 – 64. Please note that in scenic areas such as Causeway Bay, main street in Tsim Sha Tsui, the price is generally higher.

Main Specialties and Its Price Range in Hong Kong

Specialties	Price Range
Curry Fish Balls	HKD 7 – 13/USD 1 – 2
Stuffed “Three Treasures”	HKD 1 – 8/USD 0.1 – 1
Egg Puffs	HKD 15 – 15/USD 2
Cart Noodles	HKD 30 – 80/USD 4 – 10
Char Siu Rice	HKD 10 – 80/USD 1.3 – 10
Pork Chop Rice	HKD 30 – 80/USD 4 – 10
Dim Sum in Tim Ho Wan	HKD 23–40/USD 3 – 5
Tonkotsu ramen	HKD 89 – 120/USD 11 – 15

Cost of Meals in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou

As tier 1 cities, the meal costs in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are higher than those in other cities. Among the three cities, the cost of common breakfast, lunch and dinner is quite similar. The major difference lies in their special breakfast and high-end dining experiences, as the table below.

Meals	Beijing	Shanghai	Guangzhou
Breakfast	Common: CNY 5 – 8/USD 0.7 – 1.2 Special: Noodles with soybean paste: CNY 15 – 20/USD 2 – 3	Common: CNY 5 – 8/USD 0.7 – 1.2 Special: Sandwich and coffee: CNY 25+/USD 4+	Common: CNY 5 – 8/USD 0.7 – 1.2 Special: Morning tea: CNY 20 – 30/USD 3 – 4
Lunch	CNY 15 – 35/USD 2 – 5	CNY 15 – 35/USD 2 – 5	CNY 15 – 35/USD 2 – 5
Dinner	Casual: CNY 30 – 50/USD 4 – 7 Upscale: CNY 150 – 200/USD 22 – 29	Casual: CNY 30 – 50/USD 4 – 7 Upscale: CNY 500 – 2000/USD 74 – 294	Casual: CNY 30 – 50/USD 4 – 7 Upscale: CNY 400 – 600/USD 59 – 88

In consideration of price, Beijing is cost-effective, because it offers the largest portions and lower and relatively stable prices. Shanghai features the highest premium, which is driven by scenic river views and skyline dining experiences, especially in The Bund and Lujiazui. Guangzhou, as the gastronomic capital, offers rich specialties at reasonable prices.

Related reading: Top Food to Eat in Guangzhou

Guangzhou Food - Cantonese Morning Tea — Guangzhou Food Cantonese Morning Tea

Main Specialties and Its Price Range in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou

Cities	Specialties	Price Range
Beijing	Peking Roast Duck	CNY 128-398/USD 19 – 59
Beijing	Noodles with soybean paste	CNY 18 – 30/USD 3 – 4
Beijing	Fried chop rice cake	CNY 5 – 10/USD 0.7 – 1.5
Beijing	Luzhu huoshao	CNY 25 – 35/USD 4 – 5
Shanghai	Small Steamed Bun	CNY 28 – 58/USD 4 – 9
Shanghai	Pan-Fried Pork Buns	CNY 15 – 25/USD 2 – 4
Shanghai	Yanduxian	CNY 58 – 88/USD 9 – 13
Shanghai	Crab Roe Noodles	CNY 88 – 168/USD 13 – 25
Guangzhou	Rice Noodle Rolls	CNY 12 – 25/USD 2 – 4
Guangzhou	White Sliced Chicken	CNY 48 – 88/USD 7 – 13
Guangzhou	Claypot Rice	CNY 35 – 65/USD 5 – 10
Guangzhou	Har Gow	CNY 28 – 38/USD 4 – 6
Guangzhou	Milk Custard	CNY 15 – 25/USD 2 – 4

How Much is Food in Xi’an and Other Tier 2 Cities?

Compared with Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the cost in Xian and other tier 2 cities is relatively lower. And among all tier 2 cities, the cost of a meal is basically the same.

For daily snacks and fast food, the cost for breakfast, lunch and dinner is CNY 5 – 15/USD 0.7 – 2, 25 – 45/USD 4 – 7 and 20 – 50/USD 3 – 7 per person separately. If you want to taste the special local cuisines, it will take about CNY 30 – 90/USD 4 – 13 in ordinary restaurants and CNY 80 – 120/USD 12 – 18 in high-end restaurants. The price in scenic areas is often higher in Tier 2 cities, but is acceptable.

Main Specialties and Its Price Range in Xian

Specialties	Price Range
Roujiamo	CNY 12 – 18
Mutton and Bread Pieces in Soup	CNY 35 – 50
Cold Rice Noodles	CNY 8 – 15
Spicy Pepper Soup	CNY 8 – 12
Jing Gao	CNY 10 – 20

Xi'an Food - Liangpi — Xi’an Food – Liangpi

Xi'an Food - Roujiamo — Xi’an Food – Roujiamo

Useful Tips for Dining in China

Tipping is not Customary in China

In the culture of China, it is wildly recognized that service charge has been included in the price of commodities, so tipping is not customary, and sometime it is may be interpreted as a questioning of the professionalism of the service provider. If you want to show your respect, you can praise their service directly, post good feedback on the platform or give a small gift instead. >> See more details about tipping culture and advice in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

Where Food/Drink Costs More

Tourist area: The food price there is usually 30% higher than other areas due to the high rent fee of shops.
Train stations and airports: After security check, the choices of food are limited and passengers place more emphasis on efficiency and convenience, so the premium is obvious with 30 – 50% higher than normal situations.
high-end restaurants: Due to the type of ingredients, brands, better environment and service, the price in high-end restaurants is about 3 – 7 folds of the ordinary ones.

How to Pay for Food and Drinks in China?

From the street stores to ordinary restaurants and high-end restaurants, almost all support the payment by Wechat, Alipay and cash. And some high-end restaurants also support pay by bank card and international credit cards.

Related reading: How to Pay in China As a Foreigner

Practical Tips to Save Money on Food in China

Choose the local inexpensive restaurants, you can screen out the time-honored brands with a rating of 4.5 or above on the food ordering apps such as Dianping APP.
You can also search and buy the groupon of the restaurant you want to go in advance in the Meituan App.
Avoid tourist attractions, find out the food streets the locals prefer on the internet.
Go to the streets next to universities, where the price is basically lower since there are almost students.

Plan Your China Food Tour with Us

If you want to taste various kinds of special during China travel, but do not know the specialties and cost of food, our travel agency is pleased to plan a food tour for you based on your preference and budget. You can follow our guide to taste the authentic local food and experience the extensive and profound food culture of China. So feel free to contact with us at any time.

FAQs about Food Cost in China

Q1: Are there hidden fees in China food pricing?

Some restaurants provide wet wipes, tissues and pre-meal snacks at an extra cost, which may be not mentioned when served. So confirm with the waiter in advance. Besides, in some mid-to-high-end restaurants, a service fee of 10% to 15% will be added to the bill.

Q2: How can I determine whether a restaurant offers reasonable prices?

The most direct way is to choose a restaurant with more locals. You can also check whether there are clearly marked prices on the menu. Be wary of dishes listed simply with market price or ambiguous pricing units, especially when ordering seafood. Another useful way is to check the average cost in advance on a local app for daily life, such as Meituan and Dianping.

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