💴 China Currency Cheat Sheet
A printable pocket card for understanding Chinese money: common price tags converted at today's reference rate, what each banknote in your wallet actually buys, and the money questions every traveler asks.
ChinaNeighbor.com · 2026-10-14
Price tags, translated
What common amounts in ¥ (CNY) are worth right now:
| China (CNY) | 🇺🇸 USD | 🇬🇧 GBP | 🇪🇺 EUR | 🇦🇺 AUD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¥5 | 0.75 | 0.56 | 0.67 | 1.07 |
| ¥10 | 1.49 | 1.13 | 1.33 | 2.14 |
| ¥20 | 2.98 | 2.25 | 2.67 | 4.28 |
| ¥50 | 7.46 | 5.64 | 6.67 | 10.70 |
| ¥100 | 14.91 | 11.27 | 13.34 | 21.41 |
| ¥200 | 29.83 | 22.54 | 26.68 | 42.81 |
| ¥500 | 74.57 | 56.36 | 66.70 | 107.03 |
| ¥1,000 | 149.14 | 112.71 | 133.41 | 214.05 |
The banknotes in your wallet
What each note typically buys at 2026 city prices:
| Note | Roughly buys |
|---|---|
| ¥1 | Small change — keep for bus fares and market stalls |
| ¥5 | A short metro ride or a bottled soda |
| ¥10 | A simple street breakfast or two metro rides |
| ¥20 | A filling noodle-shop meal |
| ¥50 | A casual dinner for one, or a cross-town taxi |
| ¥100 | A mid-range dinner for two |
Mid-market reference rates for trip planning — your bank or card adds ~1–3%. Not a financial quote.
Quick answers
Is 100 yuan a lot of money in China?
For daily travel it goes far: a mid-range dinner for two, 20+ metro rides, or a full day of street food and coffee. Food and transit cost much less than in most Western cities — hotels in big cities are the exception.
Does China still use cash?
Yes — yuan cash is legal tender and must be accepted, but cities run on QR-code payments (Alipay / WeChat Pay). Both apps accept foreign cards. Keep ¥100–200 in cash for markets, small eateries and rural stops.
What currency should I bring to China?
Bring plastic, not cash: card-linked Alipay or WeChat Pay covers nearly everything. If you want a cash backup, USD and EUR exchange widely; rarer currencies may only convert at Bank of China branches.
Why does my bank's rate differ from this card?
This card uses mid-market reference rates, updated daily. Banks and card networks add roughly 1–3%, airport counters 3–5%. Treat every number here as a close estimate, not a quote.