China
Compared with Germany, using real observed prices.
Baseline: Germany = 1×
Overall verdict
China is about 0.51×
Germany.
Average across 4 categories, 7 items with data
The shape of prices (vs
Germany = 1×)
How to read this
The centre line is Germany. 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
Germany
Germany = 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 Germany — 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 ×0.82
China €776.85 CNY 5,999
Germany €949.00 EUR 949
-
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.64
China €38.59 CNY 298
Germany €59.99 EUR 59.99
-
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.49
China €1.04 USD 1.179
Germany €2.13 USD 2.425
-
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.45
China €0.04 USD 0.051
Germany €0.10 USD 0.113
-
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.43
China €0.92 USD 1.045
Germany €2.15 USD 2.451
-
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.19
China €0.07 USD 0.076
Germany €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.