United States

Compared with China, using real observed prices.

Baseline: China = 1×

United States vs

China

Overall verdict

United States is about 1.30× China.

Average across 5 categories, 7 items with data

The shape of prices (vs China = 1×)

How to read this

The centre line is China. A bar running right means United States 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

China China = 1×

United States is pricier →

🍔 Food & Dining 1 item

×1.67
⚡ Utilities 2 items

×1.53
🎟 Leisure 1 item

×1.37
⛽ Transport 2 items

×1.12
📱 Electronics 1 item

×0.94

Thin bar shows the range (cheapest to priciest item in the category)

In United States, Electricity 1kWh (household) costs 2.5× what it does in China — but iPhone (base model, base storage) costs only 0.9×. What is expensive here is energy, not the goods that carry a world price.

Real prices. Real sources. Real dates.

Electricity 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×2.47

United States ¥1.29 USD 0.188

China ¥0.52 USD 0.076

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Big Mac 1 burger ×1.67

United States ¥42.61 USD 6.12

China ¥25.50 CNY 25.5

Observed 2026-01-01 · The Economist Big Mac Index
PC game (Cyberpunk 2077) 1 game ×1.37

United States ¥407.10 USD 59.99

China ¥298.00 CNY 298

Observed 2026-07-27 · Steam Store
Diesel 1L 1 L ×1.30

United States ¥9.21 USD 1.356

China ¥7.10 USD 1.045

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Gasoline 1L 1 L ×0.97

United States ¥7.79 USD 1.146

China ¥8.01 USD 1.179

Observed 2026-07-20 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
Natural gas 1kWh (household) 1 kWh ×0.94

United States ¥0.33 USD 0.048

China ¥0.35 USD 0.051

Observed 2026-04-01 · GlobalPetrolPrices.com
iPhone (base model, base storage) 1 unit ×0.94

United States ¥5,626 USD 829

China ¥5,999 CNY 5,999

Observed 2026-07-27 · Apple official online store