China
Compared with Belgium, using real observed prices.
Baseline: 
Belgium = 1×
China
vs
Belgium
Overall verdict
China is about 0.54× Belgium.
Average across 4 categories, 7 items with data
The shape of prices (vs Belgium = 1×)
How to read this
The centre line is Belgium. A bar running right means China is pricier; running left means cheaper. The thin bar behind shows the range from the cheapest to the priciest item in that category.
← Cheaper than Belgium
Belgium = 1×
China is pricier →
Belgium
Belgium = 1×
China is pricier →
Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)
In China, iPhone (base model, base storage) costs 0.8× what it does in Belgium — but Electricity 1kWh (household) costs only 0.2×. Calling this country simply "expensive" hides a gap this wide.
Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.
-
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×0.80China
€776.85
CNY 5,999Belgium
€969.00
EUR 969
-
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.64China
€38.59
CNY 298Belgium
€59.99
EUR 59.99
-
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.59China
€0.04
USD 0.051Belgium
€0.07
USD 0.087
-
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.56China
€1.04
USD 1.179Belgium
€1.87
USD 2.123
-
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.44China
€0.92
USD 1.045Belgium
€2.07
USD 2.36
-
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.19China
€0.07
USD 0.076Belgium
€0.35
USD 0.406
See what really changed
Big Mac, 2021 → 2026At the timeUsing the exchange rate of each date
+14%
in CNY
22.4 → 25.5
22.4 → 25.5
vs
At today's rateUsing today's exchange rate
+8%
in EUR
It rose 14% in local currency, but 8% in yours. Most of what you feel is the exchange rate, not China's inflation.
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