How Big a House Can I Buy in China?
Convert a purchase budget into an estimated floor-area range for a selected Chinese city.
Shanghai Floor-Area Estimate
28 sqm-80 sqm
Higher-cost districts buy less floor area; outer or older stock may buy more.
Exchange rate last updated: 2026-05-26. Estimates are for planning only.About This Calculator
The How Big a House Can I Buy in China calculator converts a purchase budget into an estimated floor-area range. Instead of starting with a target apartment size, it starts with the money available and asks how many square meters that budget might buy in a selected Chinese city. This is helpful when comparing very different markets, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, or lower-cost provincial cities.
The output should be read as a planning range, not as a promise that a specific apartment size is available. In high-demand districts, the same budget may buy less space because of school access, transit convenience, newer construction, or limited supply. In outer districts or older buildings, the same budget may stretch further. Use this calculator to frame expectations, then review city guides, current listings, and purchase costs. It is especially useful when comparing whether to prioritize location, floor area, or total cash needed at closing.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select the Chinese city you want to test.
- Enter your available purchase budget.
- Choose whether the budget is in USD or CNY.
- Use the output as a rough floor-area range for further city research.
What the Result Means
The result estimates the smaller-to-larger floor area your budget may support under the selected city's broad price range.
City Price Assumptions
The calculation divides your budget by broad city price-per-square-meter assumptions. It excludes taxes, agent fees, mortgage rules, renovation, furnishings, and district-specific premiums.
Related City Guides
Popular cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu.
FAQ
Does this tell me the exact size I can buy?
No. It gives a broad range. The exact size depends on district, property type, building condition, policy, financing, and availability.
Should I include taxes in my budget?
For practical planning, yes. This calculator treats the budget as a property-price budget, so transaction costs should be considered separately.
Why does the same budget buy less in Tier 1 cities?
Tier 1 cities usually have higher land values, stronger job markets, tighter supply in central districts, and higher school or transit premiums.
Can this be used for new homes and resale homes?
It can frame expectations for both, but new-build and resale pricing can differ materially by city, district, developer, and delivery status.