😐A single person spends $1,089 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $670 in Chengdu, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,789 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,074 in Chengdu, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,478 in Chengdu, rent included.
😐Beijing (Pekin) costs about 62% more than Chengdu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Beijing (Pekin) and Chengdu are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin)19% lower, Chengdu50% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.30¥29.44
$2.84¥19.42
51.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.98¥192
$24.02¥165
16.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.29¥36.24
$4.78¥32.72
10.67%
Cappuccino
$3.21¥21.98
$2.77¥19.01
15.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42¥2.86
$0.43¥2.95
-2.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.08
$0.30¥2.08
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.12¥7.68
$1.13¥7.75
-0.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12¥14.54
$2.04¥13.97
3.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71¥11.72
$1.82¥12.45
-6.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59¥10.90
$1.45¥9.92
9.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12¥7.66
$0.92¥6.32
21.74%
Eggs
$1.73¥11.83
$1.94¥13.28
-10.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.79¥108
$13.50¥92.5
16.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.33¥22.81
$3.52¥24.11
-5.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.66¥66.2
$11.22¥76.8
-13.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06¥14.13
$1.92¥13.16
7.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60¥10.98
$1.23¥8.39
30.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78¥12.20
$1.49¥10.24
19.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30¥8.88
$1.08¥7.40
20.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79¥5.44
$0.69¥4.75
14.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92¥6.29
$0.71¥4.84
29.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73¥4.99
$0.56¥3.84
30.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.84
$0.60¥4.14
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58¥24.55
$3.39¥23.21
5.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46¥71.7
$5.58¥38.20
87.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81¥5.55
$1.00¥6.88
-19.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80¥12.36
$1.79¥12.26
0.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54¥3.72
$0.43¥2.96
25.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.11¥213
$27.53¥189
13.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.82¥12.47
$1.28¥8.79
42.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33¥2.26
$0.26¥1.77
26.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.31¥70.6
$4.26¥29.16
142.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.79
$1.18¥8.07
-3.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K¥124.6K
$18.7K¥127.9K
-2.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K¥107.0K
$16.3K¥111.9K
-4.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.0¥363
$43.81¥300
21.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.75¥59.9
$11.49¥78.7
-23.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.49¥85.5
$11.73¥80.3
6.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.95¥342
$24.26¥166
105.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.40¥126
$11.27¥77.2
63.27%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34¥57.1
$5.73¥39.23
45.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$674¥4,619
$340¥2,326
98.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.3K¥166.2K
$12.2K¥83.4K
99.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.0¥425
$37.27¥255
66.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.39¥236
$39.16¥268
-12.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.9¥540
$65.7¥450
20.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0¥678
$50.4¥345
96.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$886¥6,067
$308¥2,112
187.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458¥3,137
$181¥1,242
152.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,924¥13.2K
$622¥4,258
209.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,066¥7,299
$330¥2,263
222.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.4K¥85.1K
$3,887¥26.6K
219.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,333¥43.4K
$2,045¥14.0K
209.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Chengdu
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,618¥11.1K
$1,210¥8,287
33.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
4.21
-13.54%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Beijing (Pekin): April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Chengdu: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $886 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $308 in Chengdu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 34% higher in Beijing (Pekin), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $24.00 in Chengdu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $197 – making Chengdu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Beijing (Pekin) vs Chengdu: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Chengdu cheaper than Beijing (Pekin)?
Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,633 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,006 in Chengdu. 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 Chengdu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Beijing (Pekin) or Chengdu?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $24.00 in Chengdu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Beijing (Pekin) vs Chengdu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,089 in Beijing (Pekin) and $670 in Chengdu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Beijing (Pekin) or Chengdu?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chengdu, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,089. In Chengdu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Beijing (Pekin) or Chengdu more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chengdu – 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 Chengdu. 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.
Beijing (Pekin) vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado