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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,177 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $494 in Kaifeng, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,908 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $799 in Kaifeng, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,639 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,104 in Kaifeng, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) costs about 138% more than Kaifeng, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Beijing (Pekin) and Kaifeng are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin) 14% lower, Kaifeng 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 ¥29.77

$1.74 ¥11.65

155.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.71 ¥199

$13.29 ¥89.1

123.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.36 ¥35.91

$4.18 ¥28.00

28.23%

Cappuccino

$3.55 ¥23.76

$2.51 ¥16.82

41.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ¥3.68

$0.38 ¥2.57

44.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.79

$0.14 ¥0.93

92.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.20

$0.92 ¥6.19

32.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ¥11.17

$1.65 ¥11.05

1.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ¥11.89

$1.54 ¥10.32

14.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥11.21

$1.52 ¥10.15

9.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.55

$0.85 ¥5.72

32.94%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥13.47

$0.91 ¥6.08

120.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 ¥96.5

$6.87 ¥46.02

109.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 ¥22.39

$2.37 ¥15.85

40.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥72.6

$10.01 ¥67.0

8.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 ¥14.51

$0.84 ¥5.63

158.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.10

$0.97 ¥6.46

86.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ¥13.00

$0.63 ¥4.21

207.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ¥10.50

$0.61 ¥4.08

157.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.82

$0.63 ¥4.19

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.17

$0.68 ¥4.56

35.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ¥4.68

$0.23 ¥1.55

204.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ¥4.12

$0.52 ¥3.50

19.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ¥27.86

$2.99 ¥20.04

39.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 ¥98.2

$14.62 ¥97.9

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ¥7.00

$1.00 ¥6.71

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥11.87

$2.01 ¥13.46

-11.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ¥5.13

$0.16 ¥1.07

381.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.73 ¥233

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ¥12.90

$1.16 ¥7.79

66.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.38

$0.14 ¥0.91

150.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.33 ¥49.10

$3.50 ¥23.42

109.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ¥8.81

$1.23 ¥8.24

7.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.7K ¥131.8K

$19.4K ¥130.1K

1.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.8K ¥119.4K

$14.6K ¥97.8K

22.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$56.4 ¥377

$44.50 ¥298

26.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.95 ¥60.0

$4.91 ¥32.86

82.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.53 ¥97.3

$5.18 ¥34.71

180.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.46 ¥264

$29.77 ¥199

32.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.00 ¥161

$10.58 ¥70.8

126.84%

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 ¥51.2

$3.67 ¥24.61

108.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$658 ¥4,408

$311 ¥2,080

111.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K ¥162.5K

$22.1K ¥147.9K

9.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 ¥441

$52.7 ¥353

24.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.10 ¥255

$31.45 ¥211

21.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 ¥574

$70.3 ¥471

21.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ¥831

$43.85 ¥294

182.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ¥6,598

$121 ¥808

716.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 ¥3,582

$90.2 ¥604

493.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 ¥15.7K

$221 ¥1,479

958.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 ¥7,424

$175 ¥1,175

531.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.5K ¥83.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,363 ¥42.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,663 ¥11.1K

$579 ¥3,878

187.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.21

3.1

3.55%

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

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

Last update for Kaifeng: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $121 in Kaifeng. 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 187% 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 $13.00 in Kaifeng. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $164 – making Kaifeng 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 Kaifeng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 138%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,765 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $741 in Kaifeng. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kaifeng, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $13.00 in Kaifeng. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Beijing (Pekin), though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kaifeng, where all-in costs run around $494, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,177. In Kaifeng it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kaifeng – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Kaifeng. 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.