China
Compared with Italy, using real observed prices.
Baseline: Italy = 1×
Overall verdict
China is about 0.50×
Italy.
Average across 4 categories, 7 items with data
The shape of prices (vs
Italy = 1×)
How to read this
The centre line is Italy. 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
Italy
Italy = 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 Italy — 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 ×0.79
China €776.85 CNY 5,999
Italy €979.00 EUR 979
-
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×0.64
China €38.59 CNY 298
Italy €59.99 EUR 59.99
-
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.53
China €1.04 USD 1.179
Italy €1.95 USD 2.22
-
Diesel 1L 1 L ×0.43
China €0.92 USD 1.045
Italy €2.11 USD 2.407
-
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.36
China €0.04 USD 0.051
Italy €0.12 USD 0.141
-
Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.18
China €0.07 USD 0.076
Italy €0.36 USD 0.414
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.