Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Afghanistan and China

Name: China
Address: CN

For one person, living is cheaper in Afghanistan: $555 a month against $791 in China, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

27

Cost of Living Index in Afghanistan
Learn more

Afghanistan Living Index
38

Cost of Living Index in China
Learn more

China Living Index

Jump to prices

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

$555

/mo nomad

🇨🇳 China

$791

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Afghanistan and in China

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Afghanistan and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $555 per month in Afghanistan vs $791 in China, rent included.

Afghanistan $555
China $791

A couple spends around $745 per month in Afghanistan vs $1,251 in China, rent included.

Afghanistan $745
China $1,251

A family of three spends $934 per month in Afghanistan vs $1,711 in China, rent included.

Afghanistan $934
China $1,711

The regional cost range is wider in China ($465–$1,222) than in Afghanistan ($24–$504), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Afghanistan is roughly 30% lower than in China on average.

Both Afghanistan and China are more affordable than the global median – Afghanistan 59% lower, China 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 ؋146

$2.98 ¥19.82

-24.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 ؋700

$22.09 ¥147

-51.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.76 ؋244

$5.20 ¥34.61

-27.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 ؋132

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.61 ؋494

Cappuccino

$0.97 ؋62.8

$2.97 ¥19.74

-67.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ؋31.24

$0.48 ¥3.19

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ؋11.04

$0.30 ¥2.01

-43.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ¥7.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ¥15.15

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 ؋52.9

$1.80 ¥11.96

-55.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 ؋18.33

$1.68 ¥11.15

-83.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 ؋120

$0.92 ¥6.14

101.09%

Eggs

$1.67 ؋109

$1.61 ¥10.73

3.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.69 ؋305

$13.38 ¥89.1

-64.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 ؋240

$3.35 ¥22.28

10.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.44 ؋418

$11.35 ¥75.5

-43.26%

Apples (1kg)

$0.68 ؋44.46

$1.82 ¥12.13

-62.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ؋65.7

$1.31 ¥8.69

-22.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 ؋66.2

$1.49 ¥9.89

-31.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 ؋37.38

$1.27 ¥8.48

-54.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ؋36.02

$0.71 ¥4.73

-22.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 ؋28.35

$0.93 ¥6.21

-52.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 ؋23.49

$0.62 ¥4.12

-41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ؋24.47

$0.56 ¥3.74

-32.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 ؋123

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ؋45.22

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ؋66.0

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.37 ؋154

$3.78 ¥25.16

-37.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.13 ¥80.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.54

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥11.21

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ؋21.03

$0.29 ¥1.92

10.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.55 ؋945

$17.83 ¥119

-18.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ؋92.2

$1.49 ¥9.89

-4.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ؋28.83

$0.37 ¥2.49

18.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 ؋112

$7.10 ¥47.25

-75.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ؋72.1

$1.26 ¥8.37

-11.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$8,359 ؋542.9K

$19.4K ¥129.4K

-57.01%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.8K ؋2.3M

$17.5K ¥116.7K

98.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$57.1 ؋3,709

$54.6 ¥363

4.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.94 ؋905

$8.73 ¥58.1

59.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$165 ؋10.7K

$11.07 ¥73.7

1389.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.77 ؋700

$40.77 ¥271

-73.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.05 ؋263

$14.48 ¥96.4

-72.03%

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 ؋173

$6.78 ¥45.13

-60.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$20.34 ؋1,321

$517 ¥3,438

-96.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,292 ؋83.9K

$19.8K ¥131.9K

-93.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.49 ؋876

$46.53 ¥310

-71.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.97 ؋1,167

$35.66 ¥237

-49.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.87 ؋2,849

$77.0 ¥512

-43.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.87 ؋2,070

$80.3 ¥534

-60.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 ؋7,588

$386 ¥2,568

-69.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.7 ؋5,828

$235 ¥1,561

-61.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 ؋13.1K

$822 ¥5,470

-75.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$113 ؋7,333

$453 ¥3,016

-75.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$664 ؋43.1K

$4,697 ¥31.3K

-85.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$347 ؋22.6K

$2,372 ¥15.8K

-85.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$261 ؋17.0K

$1,093 ¥7,276

-76.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.22

3.46

426.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Afghanistan: October 27, 2026

Last update for China: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Afghanistan

$236 42.5%

China

$74 9.4% 68.5% $162

Groceries & Markets

Afghanistan

$102 18.4%

China

$210 26.5% 106% $108

Accommodation & Living

Afghanistan

$90 16.2%

China

$235 29.6% 161% $145

Clothing & Footwear

Afghanistan

$48 8.7%

China

$108 13.6% 123% $59

Eating Out

Afghanistan

$43 7.8%

China

$88 11.1% 103% $45

Getting Around

Afghanistan

$19 3.5%

China

$22 2.8% 14.6% $2.9

Sport & Entertainment

Afghanistan

$16 2.9%

China

$54 6.9% 238% $38

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $89 in Afghanistan vs $298 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $122 in Kabul and $933 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $228 in Afghanistan vs $873 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 235% higher in China.

Dining out costs 100% more in China.

Salaries are about 3.8 times higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

Good to know

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

🇨🇳 China

🕒 Local time

12:30 12:30 PM

16:00 4:00 PM

3 h 30 min ahead of Afghanistan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

41,454,761

1,442,965,000

💱 Currency

Afghanistan Afghani AFN ؋

Chinese Yuan CNY ¥

📈 Exchange rate

100 AFN = 1.54 USD

100 AFN = 1.38 EUR

1 CNY = 0.15 USD

1 CNY = 0.135 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to AFN – Afghanistan Afghani Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇦🇫 Afghanistan Afghani (؋)

Afghanistan Afghani exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 64.95 AFN (100 AFN = 1.54 USD). 1 EUR = 72.29 AFN (100 AFN = 1.38 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 6.66 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.41 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

USD to AFN in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Afghanistan China 4,170 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Afghanistan
China

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Afghanistan vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Afghanistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 30% lower on average.

Housing costs more in China: a central one-bedroom averages $298 versus $89 in Afghanistan.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Afghanistan, adding to the overall 43% price gap.

$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Afghanistan, but in China it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Afghanistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.