😐A single person spends $1,073 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $771 in Heyuan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,769 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,208 in Heyuan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,464 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,646 in Heyuan, rent included.
😐Beijing (Pekin) costs about 39% more than Heyuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Beijing (Pekin) and Heyuan are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin)20% lower, Heyuan42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.29¥28.98
$2.80¥18.95
53.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.28¥191
$15.11¥102
87.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.19¥35.08
$4.15¥28.03
25.06%
Cappuccino
$3.08¥20.83
$2.11¥14.23
45.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42¥2.86
$0.33¥2.25
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28¥1.87
$0.22¥1.49
27.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.31
$0.72¥4.84
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥13.85
$1.69¥11.43
21.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67¥11.26
$1.90¥12.86
-12.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61¥10.86
$2.10¥14.22
-23.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12¥7.56
$1.25¥8.46
-10.40%
Eggs
$1.71¥11.55
$1.52¥10.27
12.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.76¥106
$19.19¥130
-17.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19¥21.55
$4.48¥30.28
-28.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.85¥66.5
$14.37¥97.1
-31.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09¥14.14
$2.04¥13.80
2.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66¥11.22
$1.25¥8.43
32.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77¥11.96
$1.94¥13.09
-8.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27¥8.59
$1.41¥9.55
-9.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85¥5.78
$0.92¥6.22
-7.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91¥6.13
$1.05¥7.11
-13.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67¥4.52
$0.56¥3.78
19.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52¥3.51
$0.61¥4.13
-14.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44¥23.25
$3.85¥25.99
-10.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.79¥99.9
$12.10¥81.7
22.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86¥5.78
$0.96¥6.48
-10.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74¥11.77
$1.40¥9.47
24.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55¥3.71
$0.27¥1.80
103.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.84¥215
$16.67¥113
91.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.84¥12.46
$1.71¥11.58
7.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.37
$0.34¥2.32
2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.33¥69.8
$6.21¥42.00
66.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.69
$1.13¥7.66
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K¥127.4K
$21.0K¥141.6K
-10.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9K¥107.4K
$19.3K¥130.5K
-17.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.5¥348
$59.7¥404
-13.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.84¥59.7
$13.17¥89.0
-32.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.44¥84.1
$11.53¥77.9
7.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.69¥336
$42.16¥285
17.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.49¥125
$14.10¥95.3
31.13%
Cinema Ticket
$8.29¥56.1
$6.60¥44.59
25.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$679¥4,588
$320¥2,165
111.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K¥158.6K
$15.8K¥106.5K
48.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7¥423
$41.06¥277
52.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.13¥231
$28.85¥195
18.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0¥520
$69.9¥473
10.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100¥679
$61.1¥413
64.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894¥6,044
$278¥1,880
221.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$464¥3,133
$186¥1,258
149.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,906¥12.9K
$581¥3,928
227.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,077¥7,277
$361¥2,442
198.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.6K¥85.1K
$2,836¥19.2K
343.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,257¥42.3K
$2,079¥14.1K
200.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Heyuan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,569¥10.6K
$1,303¥8,804
20.47%
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): July 12, 2026
Last update for Heyuan: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $894 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $278 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 20% 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 $15.00 in Heyuan. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $253 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 39%, 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 $1,610 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,156 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 $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $15.00 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 $1,073 in Beijing (Pekin) and $771 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 $771, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,073. 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