Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Guangzhou (Canton) Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Guangzhou (Canton)

😐 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 5.8% more expensive than Guangzhou (Canton) without rent, and 20.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 9.1% more expensive than Guangzhou (Canton) without rent, and 28% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 ¥29.26
$2.85 ¥20.47
43.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.3 ¥196
$22.47 ¥161
21.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ¥37.06
$5 ¥35.9
3.40%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥22.18
$3.04 ¥21.83
1.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.26
$0.5 ¥3.55
-10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.32 ¥2.32
-6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.8
$0.99 ¥7.08
10.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥15.27
$1.71 ¥12.26
24.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.99 ¥14.26
-15.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥11.74
$2.08 ¥14.94
-21.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.66
$1.28 ¥9.2
-16.41%
Eggs
$1.67 ¥12.01
$1.56 ¥11.22
7.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.01 ¥115
$18.79 ¥135
-14.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 ¥22.88
$4.66 ¥33.43
-31.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 ¥68.2
$14.05 ¥101
-32.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ¥14.88
$2.12 ¥15.18
-2.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 ¥11.28
$1.27 ¥9.08
23.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.8 ¥12.93
$1.97 ¥14.15
-8.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥9.23
$1.49 ¥10.65
-13.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.99
$0.92 ¥6.6
-8.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.55
$1.09 ¥7.79
-16.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.83
$0.56 ¥3.98
19.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.74
$0.65 ¥4.63
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.73
$3.76 ¥26.97
-8.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.69 ¥62.3
$8.68 ¥62.2
0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.94 ¥6.76
-14.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ¥12.58
$1.38 ¥9.89
26.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ¥3.85
$0.4 ¥2.9
35.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.25 ¥224
$25.55 ¥183
22.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ¥12.73
$1.63 ¥11.66
9.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.36
$0.37 ¥2.67
-10.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 ¥76.4
$6.29 ¥45.13
69.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥8.19
$1.12 ¥8.07
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K ¥134.5K
$21.3K ¥152.6K
-11.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥111.9K
$19.7K ¥141.4K
-20.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 ¥375
$60.4 ¥433
-13.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.86 ¥63.6
$12.91 ¥92.6
-31.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.53 ¥89.9
$11.46 ¥82.2
9.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.38 ¥347
$41.3 ¥296
17.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.48 ¥133
$14.04 ¥101
31.62%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 ¥59.7
$6.42 ¥46.07
29.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 ¥4,766
$313 ¥2,242
112.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K ¥172.3K
$16.2K ¥116K
48.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ¥440
$41.46 ¥297
47.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ¥253
$28.6 ¥205
23.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 ¥573
$69.7 ¥500
14.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥725
$60.7 ¥435
66.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 ¥6,397
$498 ¥3,571
79.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ¥3,234
$273 ¥1,957
65.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 ¥14K
$1,124 ¥8,061
73.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 ¥7,836
$609 ¥4,372
79.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.7K ¥105.4K
$8,985 ¥64.4K
63.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,282 ¥45.1K
$3,445 ¥24.7K
82.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Guangzhou (Canton)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,425 ¥10.2K
$1,281 ¥9,187
11.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
4.08
-10.78%

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

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): October 28, 2025

Last update for Guangzhou (Canton): October 29, 2025

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