Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Heyuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Heyuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,177 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $800 in Heyuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,908 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,280 in Heyuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,639 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,759 in Heyuan, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) costs about 47% more than Heyuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Beijing (Pekin) and Heyuan are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin) 14% lower, Heyuan 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.44 ¥29.77
$3.06 ¥20.53
45.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.71 ¥199
$29.38 ¥197
1.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.36 ¥35.91
$5.23 ¥35.00
2.49%
Cappuccino
$3.55 ¥23.76
$3.05 ¥20.45
16.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 ¥3.68
$0.54 ¥3.59
1.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.79
$0.37 ¥2.45
-27.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 ¥8.20
$1.37 ¥9.18
-10.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ¥11.17
$2.70 ¥18.07
-38.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 ¥11.89
$1.90 ¥12.72
-6.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 ¥11.21
$1.88 ¥12.61
-11.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.55
$1.14 ¥7.61
-0.88%
Eggs
$2.01 ¥13.47
$1.58 ¥10.56
27.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 ¥96.5
$16.34 ¥109
-11.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ¥22.39
$5.01 ¥33.53
-33.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.83 ¥72.6
$12.12 ¥81.2
-10.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ¥14.51
$2.26 ¥15.11
-3.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.10
$1.28 ¥8.55
41.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 ¥13.00
$1.51 ¥10.11
28.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 ¥10.50
$1.71 ¥11.43
-8.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.82
$0.94 ¥6.27
-23.40%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.17
$1.22 ¥8.16
-24.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ¥4.68
$0.79 ¥5.27
-11.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 ¥4.12
$0.65 ¥4.34
-4.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 ¥27.86
$3.76 ¥25.16
10.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.66 ¥98.2
$10.67 ¥71.5
37.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ¥7.00
$1.06 ¥7.09
-0.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ¥11.87
$1.93 ¥12.94
-8.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ¥5.13
$0.27 ¥1.82
185.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.73 ¥233
$18.94 ¥127
83.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.93 ¥12.90
$1.83 ¥12.26
5.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.38
$0.44 ¥2.92
-20.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.33 ¥49.10
$6.89 ¥46.15
6.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ¥8.81
$1.34 ¥8.97
-1.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ¥131.8K
$19.5K ¥130.8K
0.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K ¥119.4K
$17.5K ¥117.0K
2.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.4 ¥377
$60.2 ¥403
-6.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.95 ¥60.0
$15.94 ¥107
-43.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.53 ¥97.3
$14.83 ¥99.3
-2.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.46 ¥264
$45.25 ¥303
-12.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.00 ¥161
$13.00 ¥87.1
84.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.64 ¥51.2
$6.57 ¥44.01
16.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$658 ¥4,408
$412 ¥2,761
59.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K ¥162.5K
$24.5K ¥164.2K
-1.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8 ¥441
$48.44 ¥324
35.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 ¥255
$40.91 ¥274
-6.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 ¥574
$83.3 ¥558
2.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 ¥831
$69.2 ¥463
79.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ¥6,598
$286 ¥1,918
244.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$535 ¥3,582
$182 ¥1,216
194.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,338 ¥15.7K
$606 ¥4,059
285.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 ¥7,424
$396 ¥2,649
180.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.5K ¥83.8K
$3,014 ¥20.2K
314.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,363 ¥42.6K
$1,650 ¥11.1K
285.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,663 ¥11.1K
$1,364 ¥9,137
21.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.21
3.4
-5.59%

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

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): September 14, 2026

Last update for Heyuan: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $286 in Heyuan. 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 22% 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 $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $29.00 in Heyuan. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $239 in Heyuan – so Beijing (Pekin) wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Heyuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heyuan cheaper than Beijing (Pekin)?
Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 47%, 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 $1,765 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,200 in Heyuan. 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 Heyuan, 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 in Heyuan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $29.00 in Heyuan. 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) and in Heyuan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,177 in Beijing (Pekin) and $800 in Heyuan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Beijing (Pekin) or in Heyuan?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Heyuan, where all-in costs run around $800, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,177. In Heyuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Beijing (Pekin) or Heyuan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Heyuan – 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 Heyuan. 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

Similar cities