Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Kunming, Yunnan Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Kunming, Yunnan

🙂 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 6.8% cheaper than Kunming, Yunnan without rent, and 26.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 6.7% more expensive than Kunming, Yunnan without rent, and 47.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 ¥29.26
$2.73 ¥19.6
49.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.3 ¥196
$27.92 ¥200
-2.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ¥37.06
$7.07 ¥50.7
-26.87%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥22.18
$3.01 ¥21.57
2.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.26
$0.46 ¥3.32
-2.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.25 ¥1.78
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.8
$1.35 ¥9.69
-19.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥15.27
$2.04 ¥14.6
4.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.99 ¥14.3
-15.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥11.74
$1.69 ¥12.1
-2.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.66
$1.28 ¥9.22
-16.41%
Eggs
$1.67 ¥12.01
$1.77 ¥12.69
-5.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.01 ¥115
$6.78 ¥48.63
136.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 ¥22.88
$4.2 ¥30.16
-24.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 ¥68.2
$10.97 ¥78.7
-13.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ¥14.88
$1.27 ¥9.1
62.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 ¥11.28
$0.97 ¥6.97
61.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.8 ¥12.93
$1.36 ¥9.79
32.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥9.23
$1.1 ¥7.86
17.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.99
$0.34 ¥2.43
147.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.55
$0.86 ¥6.15
5.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.83
$1.58 ¥11.3
-57.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.74
$0.63 ¥4.5
-17.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.73
$2.05 ¥14.7
68.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.69 ¥62.3
$6.21 ¥44.52
39.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.72 ¥5.15
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ¥12.58
$1.51 ¥10.82
15.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ¥3.85
$0.62 ¥4.44
-12.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.25 ¥224
$34.53 ¥248
-9.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ¥12.73
$1.13 ¥8.11
57.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.36
$0.26 ¥1.86
26.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 ¥76.4
$14 ¥100
-24.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥8.19
$1.12 ¥8.05
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K ¥134.5K
$20.5K ¥147.1K
-8.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥111.9K
$17.2K ¥123.5K
-9.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 ¥375
$50.5 ¥362
3.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.86 ¥63.6
$15.33 ¥110
-42.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.53 ¥89.9
$16.36 ¥117
-23.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.38 ¥347
$68.7 ¥493
-29.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.48 ¥133
$26.55 ¥190
-30.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 ¥59.7
$6.36 ¥45.61
30.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 ¥4,766
$420 ¥3,010
58.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K ¥172.3K
$13K ¥93.3K
84.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ¥440
$69.2 ¥496
-11.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ¥253
$33.41 ¥240
5.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 ¥573
$63.1 ¥453
26.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥725
$104 ¥748
-3.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 ¥6,397
$282 ¥2,026
215.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ¥3,234
$210 ¥1,508
114.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 ¥14K
$505 ¥3,626
284.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 ¥7,836
$349 ¥2,504
212.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.7K ¥105.4K
$3,306 ¥23.7K
344.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,282 ¥45.1K
$1,358 ¥9,739
362.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,425 ¥10.2K
$818 ¥5,864
74.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
4.45
-18.20%

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

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

Last update for Kunming, Yunnan: October 29, 2025

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