🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $648 in Baoji versus $1,067 in Beijing (Pekin).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,002 in Baoji versus $1,797 in Beijing (Pekin).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,355 in Baoji versus $2,526 in Beijing (Pekin).
🙂Living in Baoji costs roughly 39% less than in Beijing (Pekin), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Baoji52% lower, Beijing (Pekin)21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73¥18.67
$4.09¥27.96
-33.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.11¥75.9
$28.09¥192
-60.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.48¥30.57
$5.36¥36.62
-16.42%
Cappuccino
$2.42¥16.55
$3.05¥20.81
-20.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39¥2.69
$0.46¥3.14
-15.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26¥1.77
$0.30¥2.05
-13.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.86¥5.85
$1.13¥7.70
-23.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78¥12.19
$2.12¥14.46
-16.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12¥7.64
$1.71¥11.71
-34.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60¥10.95
$1.65¥11.27
-3.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71¥4.82
$1.12¥7.64
-36.61%
Eggs
$1.67¥11.42
$1.67¥11.39
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.92¥47.25
$15.67¥107
-55.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.02¥13.81
$3.22¥21.99
-37.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.82¥60.3
$9.64¥65.9
-8.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.09¥7.42
$2.10¥14.35
-48.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10¥7.49
$1.59¥10.89
-30.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77¥5.27
$1.80¥12.27
-57.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74¥5.05
$1.34¥9.13
-44.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64¥4.39
$0.85¥5.79
-24.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59¥4.00
$0.90¥6.17
-34.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44¥3.02
$0.72¥4.90
-38.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49¥3.33
$0.57¥3.87
-14.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85¥19.45
$3.58¥24.42
-20.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.37¥57.2
$10.60¥72.4
-21.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58¥3.94
$0.85¥5.82
-31.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69¥11.56
$1.74¥11.88
-2.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.99
$0.59¥4.01
-50.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.45¥112
$31.30¥214
-47.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73¥4.96
$1.80¥12.26
-59.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21¥1.43
$0.35¥2.40
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75¥18.77
$10.34¥70.6
-73.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11¥7.59
$1.14¥7.78
-2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K¥126.8K
$18.8K¥128.4K
-1.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K¥112.5K
$15.8K¥107.9K
4.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.00¥314
$51.2¥350
-10.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.10¥41.67
$9.00¥61.5
-32.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.01¥82.0
$12.44¥84.9
-3.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.33¥282
$49.97¥341
-17.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.01¥95.7
$18.24¥125
-23.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92¥33.63
$8.51¥58.1
-42.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$194¥1,324
$683¥4,665
-71.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,103¥55.3K
$23.8K¥162.9K
-66.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3¥343
$61.5¥420
-18.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98¥253
$34.26¥234
7.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.3¥425
$77.7¥531
-19.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9¥477
$102¥695
-31.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275¥1,880
$914¥6,242
-69.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184¥1,257
$458¥3,129
-59.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$592¥4,046
$1,918¥13.1K
-69.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$364¥2,489
$1,085¥7,409
-66.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,956¥20.2K
$12.1K¥82.7K
-75.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,767¥12.1K
$6,141¥41.9K
-71.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baoji
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,581¥10.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
3.64
18.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baoji: April 11, 2026
Last update for Beijing (Pekin): April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Baoji and $914 in Beijing (Pekin). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $11 in Baoji vs $28 in Beijing (Pekin) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $214 per month, with Baoji cheaper across the board.
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
Baoji vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beijing (Pekin) cheaper than Baoji?
Baoji is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $972 in Baoji and $1,601 in Beijing (Pekin) to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Baoji and Beijing (Pekin)?
Rent for a central apartment: $275 in Baoji versus $914 in Beijing (Pekin). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Baoji runs roughly 90% less than in Beijing (Pekin). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $194 in Baoji versus $683 in Beijing (Pekin). Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Baoji or Beijing (Pekin)?
At $648 in Baoji versus $1,067 in Beijing (Pekin), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baoji but tight or insufficient in Beijing (Pekin). The gap between the two cities makes Baoji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Baoji or Beijing (Pekin)?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Baoji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Beijing (Pekin). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.