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

😐 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 23.2% more expensive than Karamay without rent, and 45.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 16.2% more expensive than Karamay without rent, and 57.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19 Β₯29.02
$2.82 Β₯19.53
48.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.90 Β₯193
$20.57 Β₯142
35.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.34 Β₯36.94
$4.93 Β₯34.09
8.32%
Cappuccino
$3.22 Β₯22.31
$3.08 Β₯21.34
4.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 Β₯3.17
$0.47 Β₯3.23
-2.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Β₯1.92
$0.27 Β₯1.84
3.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 Β₯7.61
$0.90 Β₯6.21
22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 Β₯14.15
$2.12 Β₯14.65
-3.77%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Β₯12.06
$1.77 Β₯12.22
-1.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 Β₯11.04
$1.53 Β₯10.62
4.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 Β₯7.44
$0.97 Β₯6.73
11.34%
Eggs
$1.67 Β₯11.57
$1.61 Β₯11.15
3.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.05 Β₯111
$13.01 Β₯90.0
23.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 Β₯21.82
$3.11 Β₯21.54
1.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.46 Β₯65.4
$10.11 Β₯70.0
-6.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 Β₯14.80
$1.71 Β₯11.83
25.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 Β₯10.93
$1.21 Β₯8.38
30.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 Β₯12.04
$1.36 Β₯9.38
27.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 Β₯8.84
$1.08 Β₯7.50
18.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 Β₯5.45
$0.72 Β₯4.97
9.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 Β₯6.40
$0.93 Β₯6.43
-1.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 Β₯4.64
$0.59 Β₯4.11
13.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Β₯3.91
$0.51 Β₯3.51
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53 Β₯24.41
$3.08 Β₯21.34
14.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.16 Β₯63.4
$10.94 Β₯75.7
-16.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 Β₯5.59
$0.79 Β₯5.46
2.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 Β₯12.74
$1.60 Β₯11.05
15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 Β₯3.73
$0.27 Β₯1.85
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.94 Β₯214
$16.55 Β₯115
86.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 Β₯12.31
$1.37 Β₯9.47
29.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Β₯2.44
$0.33 Β₯2.27
6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.62 Β₯73.5
$6.82 Β₯47.19
55.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 Β₯7.88
$1.18 Β₯8.19
-3.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K Β₯128.7K
$19.6K Β₯135.5K
-4.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9K Β₯109.7K
$16.6K Β₯115.2K
-4.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 Β₯355
$45.75 Β₯317
12.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91 Β₯61.7
$9.82 Β₯67.9
-9.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.72 Β₯88.0
$11.52 Β₯79.8
10.42%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.38 Β₯342
$42.41 Β₯293
16.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.96 Β₯124
$13.88 Β₯96.0
29.39%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 Β₯57.1
$6.26 Β₯43.29
31.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 Β₯4,736
$331 Β₯2,289
106.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K Β₯161.9K
$17.2K Β₯119.1K
35.87%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1 Β₯423
$43.34 Β₯300
40.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.09 Β₯243
$30.98 Β₯214
13.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Β₯547
$71.6 Β₯495
10.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0 Β₯685
$74.0 Β₯512
33.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 Β₯6,180
$281 Β₯1,942
218.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 Β₯3,103
$188 Β₯1,304
138.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 Β₯13.5K
$602 Β₯4,168
223.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 Β₯7,578
$361 Β₯2,495
203.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.6K Β₯87.3K
$3,323 Β₯23.0K
279.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,295 Β₯43.6K
$1,963 Β₯13.6K
220.69%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Karamay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,553 Β₯10.7K
$578 Β₯3,997
168.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
3.87
-5.94%

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

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): March 1, 2026

Last update for Karamay: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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