Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankang and Beijing (Pekin)

For one person, living is cheaper in Ankang: $725 a month against $1,184 in Beijing (Pekin), rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ankang
🇨🇳 China
$725
/mo nomad
Beijing (Pekin)
🇨🇳 China
$1,184
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ankang and in Beijing (Pekin)

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

A single person spends $725 per month in Ankang vs $1,184 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

  • Ankang $725
  • Beijing (Pekin) $1,184

A couple spends around $1,132 per month in Ankang vs $1,916 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

  • Ankang $1,132
  • Beijing (Pekin) $1,916

A family of three spends $1,540 per month in Ankang vs $2,647 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

  • Ankang $1,540
  • Beijing (Pekin) $2,647

Ankang is about 39% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ankang and Beijing (Pekin) are more affordable than the global median – Ankang 46% lower, Beijing (Pekin) 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.47 ¥9.81
$4.47 ¥29.86
-67.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.99 ¥100
$29.66 ¥198
-49.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.91 ¥19.46
$5.21 ¥34.80
-44.15%
Cappuccino
$2.15 ¥14.39
$3.72 ¥24.86
-42.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.90
$0.50 ¥3.34
-14.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.79
$0.26 ¥1.73
3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 ¥10.03
$1.17 ¥7.84
28.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ¥9.86
$1.66 ¥11.07
-10.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ¥9.85
$1.65 ¥11.05
-10.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 ¥11.37
$1.76 ¥11.74
-3.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ¥5.99
$1.27 ¥8.51
-29.13%
Eggs
$1.49 ¥9.98
$1.88 ¥12.55
-20.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.41 ¥76.3
$14.65 ¥98.0
-22.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.12 ¥27.53
$3.15 ¥21.03
30.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.36 ¥69.2
$11.03 ¥73.8
-6.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.70 ¥11.34
$2.02 ¥13.53
-15.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.67
$1.72 ¥11.47
-33.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.24 ¥8.32
$2.08 ¥13.94
-40.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.44
$1.55 ¥10.35
-18.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.52
$0.72 ¥4.82
-5.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ¥4.61
$0.85 ¥5.68
-18.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ¥3.85
$0.69 ¥4.60
-15.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ¥3.68
$0.61 ¥4.10
-9.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 ¥22.15
$4.32 ¥28.88
-23.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.89 ¥66.1
$14.10 ¥94.3
-29.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.19
$1.01 ¥6.76
-22.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥11.22
$1.82 ¥12.17
-7.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ¥2.12
$0.70 ¥4.67
-54.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.21 ¥115
$34.48 ¥231
-50.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 ¥8.35
$1.92 ¥12.84
-34.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.33 ¥2.19
-12.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 ¥29.16
$7.67 ¥51.3
-43.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ¥9.08
$1.34 ¥8.93
1.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ¥129.3K
$19.3K ¥128.9K
0.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K ¥117.0K
$18.3K ¥122.3K
-4.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.3 ¥597
$57.3 ¥383
55.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.26 ¥21.79
$9.13 ¥61.0
-64.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.61 ¥70.9
$14.22 ¥95.1
-25.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.85 ¥300
$42.34 ¥283
5.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.11 ¥87.7
$24.61 ¥165
-46.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 ¥37.99
$7.40 ¥49.48
-23.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 ¥4,540
$660 ¥4,410
2.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.2K ¥115.2K
$24.2K ¥161.9K
-28.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.44 ¥264
$69.8 ¥467
-43.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.19 ¥249
$39.69 ¥265
-6.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 ¥498
$88.9 ¥594
-16.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.4 ¥618
$127 ¥849
-27.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$299 ¥2,002
$940 ¥6,286
-68.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ¥1,220
$524 ¥3,501
-65.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ¥4,117
$2,319 ¥15.5K
-73.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 ¥2,582
$1,128 ¥7,542
-65.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,279 ¥21.9K
$12.4K ¥82.8K
-73.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,225 ¥14.9K
$6,284 ¥42.0K
-64.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ankang
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,713 ¥11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.35
3.12
7.37%

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

Last update for Ankang: October 10, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ankang
$193
Beijing (Pekin)
$227 17.4% $34
Accommodation & Living
Ankang
$182
Beijing (Pekin)
$524 187% $341
Clothing & Footwear
Ankang
$110
Beijing (Pekin)
$146 33.6% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankang
$103
Beijing (Pekin)
$81 21.8% $23
Eating Out
Ankang
$60
Beijing (Pekin)
$108 81.6% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Ankang
$56
Beijing (Pekin)
$57 1.6% $0.9
Getting Around
Ankang
$21
Beijing (Pekin)
$41 92.9% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $299 in Ankang versus $940 in Beijing (Pekin). Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Ankang versus $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $227 – making Ankang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Ankang
🇨🇳 Beijing (Pekin)
🕒 Local time
08:43 8:43 AM
08:43 8:43 AM
Same time as Ankang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
894,853
21,893,095 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ankang Beijing (Pekin) 1,040 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ankang
  • Beijing (Pekin)

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
Ankang vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beijing (Pekin) cheaper than Ankang?
Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 63%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,088 per month in Ankang and $1,775 in Beijing (Pekin). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ankang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 100% less in Ankang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $679 per month in Ankang and $660 in Beijing (Pekin). For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ankang or in Beijing (Pekin)?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ankang, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,184. In Ankang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ankang or Beijing (Pekin) more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ankang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ankang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beijing (Pekin) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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