China : Cost of Living by City
Cost of Living in China
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Beijing?
By taking your career to Beijing, you will get a lot of opportunities and will be given an amazing experience.
Beijing has to offer enticing jobs, and what is even better, employers here might give foreigners innovative apartments to live in while working for them without paying the rent.
And if you are lucky to have a well-paid job here in Beijing, you will find yourself amazed by the comfortable living conditions and a strong budget that you will possess.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Beijing
RESTAURANTS
Living in Beijing, although more expensive than in some smaller cities in China, offers you the access to excellent international foods in restaurants, besides the local food which is served everywhere.
You can also have more luxurious meals in more pricey restaurants throughout the city.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $4.47 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.49 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.36 |
MARKETS
Popular leisure activity is dining out, but it can be difficult for you budget to stand daily eating out, so it is advisable to prepare your food sometimes, so as to be able to save some money.
Food at the local markets is not too pricey, while some stores might have higher prices for the same products.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $6.74 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.49 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.68 |
TRANSPORTATION
Living in Beijing is a distinct experience for each person, and commuting there might be problematic due to enormous crowds, which should make you change your mind if you have decided to drive here.
Public transport is so efficient, fast and reliable, and above all, more than affordable.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.60 |
| Monthly Pass | $29.81 |
| Gasoline | $3.97 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Beijing is not expensive city when it comes to utilities.
The Internet access is four times cheaper than in Canada, while other basic services are half price.
The amount that needs to be paid will highly depend on the number of people living in one apartment and their habits.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $66.22 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.03 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $14.55 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Beijing is the city which has to offer great entertainment and a night out at the movies will cost you around $8, but it depends on the cinema you decide to go to.
There are some theaters that could cost more.
Sports people would not be satisfied with the high prices of both fitness clubs and tennis courts in Beijing.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $55.34 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $22.01 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $8.20 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Depending on your spending habits, you can choose either to buy more affordable clothes which is not branded or pay more for the designer clothes, which has almost equal prices as in some European countries.
Chinese people like purchasing clothes, but not too much, as they spend 3% of their budget on it.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $68.71 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $34.92 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $84.78 |
RENT PER MONTH
This is an expensive city when it comes to renting the apartment, especially in the city center, while those that are away from it would cost quite less.
However, it is advisable to take an apartment close to your job, as commuting might be exhausting and tiring.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $943.73 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $566.85 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $2246.98 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Beijing?
The most of your monthly budget in Beijing will go to rent and many people choose to rent the place at the higher prices but to be either close to their jobs or in a fun part of Beijing.
Food is another huge expense here and depending on your tastes you can always choose buying it at discounted prices, thus saving a lot on it.
Restaurants are frequently visited here and this too can be much less expensive if you do not pick those posh ones.
As in whole China, less money is spent on utilities than on clothes.
Average Costs Breakdown
Beijing: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
If you thought that it is impossible to have a high standard of living with a well-paid job and be able to afford luxuries such as sports, travel and entertainment, then you have not tried working in Beijing.
The huge average salary combined with the low living expenses will make your living conditions excellent, plus allow you to put some money aside.
However, pay special attention when making a deal with the employer to the difference between the minimum and the average salary, as it is enormous.
Beijing Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Beijing Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | HIGH |
Cost of Living by City in China
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Chengdu |
36.16 |
| Guangzhou |
40.29 |
| Shanghai |
50.41 |
| Shenzhen |
42.21 |
| Suzhou |
37.95 |
Sounds like a dream deal! Free rent and a fat paycheck? Count me in for that adventure! Just hope the cost of dumplings doesn’t eat into all that extra cash!