πA single person spends $1,067 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $729 in Chifeng, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,797 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,134 in Chifeng, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,526 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,540 in Chifeng, rent included.
πBeijing (Pekin) costs about 46% more than Chifeng, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Beijing (Pekin) and Chifeng are more affordable than the global median β Beijing (Pekin)21% lower, Chifeng46% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.09Β₯27.96
$2.83Β₯19.32
44.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.09Β₯192
$21.79Β₯149
28.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.36Β₯36.62
$4.72Β₯32.27
13.56%
Cappuccino
$3.05Β₯20.81
$3.09Β₯21.10
-1.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Β₯3.14
$0.47Β₯3.20
-2.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30Β₯2.05
$0.27Β₯1.84
11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.13Β₯7.70
$0.92Β₯6.29
22.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12Β₯14.46
$2.13Β₯14.57
-0.47%
π Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Β₯11.71
$1.79Β₯12.20
-4.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65Β₯11.27
$1.56Β₯10.66
5.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12Β₯7.64
$0.94Β₯6.43
19.15%
Eggs
$1.67Β₯11.39
$1.54Β₯10.51
8.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.67Β₯107
$12.91Β₯88.2
21.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.22Β₯21.99
$3.26Β₯22.29
-1.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.64Β₯65.9
$10.34Β₯70.6
-6.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10Β₯14.35
$1.85Β₯12.66
13.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Β₯10.89
$1.20Β₯8.22
32.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80Β₯12.27
$1.48Β₯10.12
21.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34Β₯9.13
$1.10Β₯7.52
21.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85Β₯5.79
$0.75Β₯5.11
13.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90Β₯6.17
$0.91Β₯6.24
-1.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72Β₯4.90
$0.61Β₯4.14
18.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57Β₯3.87
$0.54Β₯3.70
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58Β₯24.42
$3.21Β₯21.94
11.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.60Β₯72.4
$10.36Β₯70.8
2.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85Β₯5.82
$0.78Β₯5.34
8.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74Β₯11.88
$1.64Β₯11.21
6.10%
π Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59Β₯4.01
$0.27Β₯1.84
118.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.30Β₯214
$16.41Β₯112
90.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.80Β₯12.26
$1.41Β₯9.61
27.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Β₯2.40
$0.35Β₯2.40
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.34Β₯70.6
$6.54Β₯44.66
58.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14Β₯7.78
$1.13Β₯7.73
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KΒ₯128.4K
$19.8KΒ₯134.9K
-4.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.8KΒ₯107.9K
$17.3KΒ₯118.1K
-8.62%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.2Β₯350
$44.44Β₯304
15.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.00Β₯61.5
$9.91Β₯67.7
-9.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.44Β₯84.9
$11.79Β₯80.6
5.51%
π Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.97Β₯341
$41.20Β₯281
21.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.24Β₯125
$13.78Β₯94.1
32.37%
Cinema Ticket
$8.51Β₯58.1
$5.83Β₯39.84
45.97%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$683Β₯4,665
$328Β₯2,241
108.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8KΒ₯162.9K
$17.1KΒ₯116.7K
39.62%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5Β₯420
$43.58Β₯298
41.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.26Β₯234
$30.30Β₯207
13.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.7Β₯531
$72.4Β₯494
7.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102Β₯695
$73.3Β₯501
38.73%
π Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$914Β₯6,242
$283Β₯1,932
223.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458Β₯3,129
$196Β₯1,336
134.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,918Β₯13.1K
$600Β₯4,098
219.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,085Β₯7,409
$366Β₯2,499
196.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.1KΒ₯82.7K
$3,030Β₯20.7K
299.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,141Β₯41.9K
$2,052Β₯14.0K
199.28%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Chifeng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,581Β₯10.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
3.89
-6.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beijing (Pekin): April 13, 2026
Last update for Chifeng: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $914 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $283 in Chifeng. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $28 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $22 in Chifeng. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $198 β making Chifeng the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Beijing (Pekin) vs Chifeng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chifeng cheaper than Beijing (Pekin)?
Yes β Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 46%, 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 $1,601 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,093 in Chifeng. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chifeng, 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 Chifeng?
What are total monthly expenses in Beijing (Pekin) vs Chifeng?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,067 in Beijing (Pekin) and $729 in Chifeng. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Beijing (Pekin) or Chifeng?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chifeng, where all-in costs run around $729, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,067. In Chifeng it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Beijing (Pekin) or Chifeng more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chifeng β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Beijing (Pekin) or Chifeng?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chifeng. 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 other spots: cost of living compared