Cost of Living Comparison Between Afghanistan and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Afghanistan and China

Name: China
Address: CN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $236 per month in Afghanistan vs $712 in China, rent included.

A couple spends around $329 per month in Afghanistan vs $1,131 in China, rent included.

A family of three spends $421 per month in Afghanistan vs $1,550 in China, rent included.

Afghanistan is roughly 67% cheaper than China on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Afghanistan and China are more affordable than the global median – Afghanistan 82% lower, China 47% lower.

Both countries show comparable internal variation: Afghanistan spans $0–$668, China spans $532–$1,187. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.13 ؋137

$2.75 ¥18.80

-22.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.94 ؋639

$24.07 ¥165

-58.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.53 ؋227

$4.84 ¥33.11

-27.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ؋190

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.11 ؋457

Cappuccino

$0.95 ؋60.8

$2.97 ¥20.29

-68.01%

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

$0.42 ؋26.81

$0.45 ¥3.05

-6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 ؋9.11

$0.29 ¥2.00

-51.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ¥6.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥14.11

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 ؋44.79

$1.82 ¥12.46

-61.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.21 ؋13.48

$1.62 ¥11.07

-87.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 ؋112

$0.91 ¥6.20

91.21%

Eggs

$1.54 ؋98.8

$1.54 ¥10.55

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.59 ؋231

$13.32 ¥91.1

-73.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 ؋214

$3.27 ¥22.38

2.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.54 ؋356

$10.56 ¥72.2

-47.54%

Apples (1kg)

$0.60 ؋38.77

$1.76 ¥12.01

-65.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 ؋51.0

$1.30 ¥8.91

-39.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 ؋44.83

$1.45 ¥9.93

-51.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 ؋29.95

$1.19 ¥8.16

-60.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 ؋27.91

$0.71 ¥4.83

-39.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 ؋25.29

$0.91 ¥6.23

-57.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 ؋19.08

$0.57 ¥3.89

-47.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ؋18.94

$0.53 ¥3.65

-45.28%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.92 ؋124

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ؋46.99

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ؋95.2

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.16 ؋139

$3.50 ¥23.97

-38.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 ¥81.1

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.72

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥11.49

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ؋17.84

$0.44 ¥3.00

-36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 ؋770

$20.76 ¥142

-42.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ؋94.6

$1.36 ¥9.28

8.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ؋44.03

$0.35 ¥2.43

97.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 ؋109

$6.65 ¥45.47

-74.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ؋66.6

$1.17 ¥7.99

-11.11%

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

$8,618 ؋553.7K

$19.1K ¥130.8K

-54.95%

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

$35.5K ؋2.3M

$17.1K ¥117.2K

107.07%

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

$77.5 ؋4,978

$52.0 ¥355

49.10%

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

$14.37 ؋923

$9.65 ¥66.0

48.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$152 ؋9,743

$11.16 ¥76.3

1258.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.91 ؋637

$40.48 ¥277

-75.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.25 ؋209

$14.75 ¥101

-77.97%

Cinema Ticket

$2.38 ؋153

$6.35 ¥43.45

-62.52%

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

$22.97 ؋1,476

$410 ¥2,803

-94.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,425 ؋91.5K

$17.8K ¥121.8K

-92.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.93 ؋895

$46.08 ¥315

-69.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.80 ؋1,272

$32.86 ¥225

-39.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.90 ؋2,114

$71.2 ¥487

-53.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.97 ؋1,861

$75.3 ¥515

-61.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.3 ؋5,286

$430 ¥2,942

-80.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$52.0 ؋3,338

$261 ¥1,784

-80.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$183 ؋11.8K

$914 ¥6,254

-79.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 ؋6,605

$542 ¥3,711

-81.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$615 ؋39.5K

$5,177 ¥35.4K

-88.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$339 ؋21.8K

$2,630 ¥18.0K

-87.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 ؋16.9K

$1,060 ¥7,250

-75.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.22

4.06

299.51%

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

Last update for Afghanistan: April 21, 2026

Last update for China: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $38 in Afghanistan vs $287 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $85 in Kabul and $891 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $231 in Afghanistan vs $833 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 655% higher in China.

Dining out costs 250% more in China.

Public transport is 157% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 261% higher in China, giving China stronger purchasing power.

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 157% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in China, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but China consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Afghanistan, contributing to the overall 157% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$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 – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.