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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,059 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $828 in Kunming, Yunnan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,761 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,268 in Kunming, Yunnan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,463 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,708 in Kunming, Yunnan, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) costs about 28% more than Kunming, Yunnan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Beijing (Pekin) and Kunming, Yunnan are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin) 21% lower, Kunming, Yunnan 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.15 ¥28.07

$2.75 ¥18.65

50.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.92 ¥189

$28.34 ¥192

-1.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 ¥35.92

$6.86 ¥46.44

-22.59%

Cappuccino

$3.04 ¥20.58

$3.11 ¥21.06

-2.25%

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

$0.46 ¥3.11

$0.44 ¥2.97

4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.04

$0.25 ¥1.68

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ¥7.71

$1.41 ¥9.57

-19.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥14.44

$2.04 ¥13.78

4.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ¥11.67

$2.01 ¥13.59

-14.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 ¥10.75

$1.72 ¥11.62

-7.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.47

$1.34 ¥9.08

-17.91%

Eggs

$1.65 ¥11.16

$1.78 ¥12.08

-7.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ¥108

$7.00 ¥47.40

127.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 ¥21.77

$4.12 ¥27.91

-21.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.98 ¥67.6

$11.01 ¥74.5

-9.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 ¥14.25

$1.26 ¥8.55

67.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ¥10.77

$0.92 ¥6.21

72.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 ¥11.77

$1.38 ¥9.33

26.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 ¥9.12

$1.09 ¥7.35

23.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ¥5.65

$0.34 ¥2.27

144.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.25

$0.82 ¥5.55

12.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.84

$1.52 ¥10.27

-53.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.80

$0.57 ¥3.88

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ¥23.33

$2.04 ¥13.81

69.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 ¥101

$6.53 ¥44.22

129.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥5.80

$0.72 ¥4.87

19.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ¥12.47

$1.51 ¥10.22

21.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ¥3.67

$0.64 ¥4.35

-15.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.39 ¥212

$34.21 ¥232

-8.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ¥12.50

$1.09 ¥7.36

69.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 ¥2.41

$0.28 ¥1.90

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.52 ¥71.2

$13.66 ¥92.5

-22.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.42

$1.12 ¥7.58

-1.79%

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

$18.2K ¥122.9K

$20.4K ¥137.9K

-10.94%

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

$15.4K ¥104.2K

$17.5K ¥118.5K

-12.10%

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

$52.7 ¥357

$51.7 ¥350

1.89%

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

$8.97 ¥60.7

$15.25 ¥103

-41.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.62 ¥85.4

$16.27 ¥110

-22.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.30 ¥327

$68.6 ¥465

-29.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.96 ¥122

$26.45 ¥179

-32.10%

Cinema Ticket

$8.17 ¥55.3

$6.46 ¥43.69

26.47%

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

$668 ¥4,521

$426 ¥2,884

56.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K ¥163.0K

$13.0K ¥87.7K

85.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 ¥413

$71.0 ¥480

-14.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.02 ¥230

$33.49 ¥227

1.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ¥520

$63.6 ¥431

20.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.1 ¥671

$105 ¥710

-5.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$916 ¥6,199

$279 ¥1,891

227.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ¥3,083

$206 ¥1,397

120.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,913 ¥12.9K

$515 ¥3,485

271.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,084 ¥7,336

$353 ¥2,387

207.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.4K ¥83.8K

$3,020 ¥20.4K

309.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,323 ¥42.8K

$1,303 ¥8,817

385.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,569 ¥10.6K

$843 ¥5,708

86.03%

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): May 30, 2026

Last update for Kunming, Yunnan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $916 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $279 in Kunming, Yunnan. 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 86% 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 $28.00 in Kunming, Yunnan. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $182 in Kunming, Yunnan – so Kunming, Yunnan 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 Kunming, Yunnan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 28%, 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 $1,589 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,242 in Kunming, Yunnan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kunming, Yunnan, 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 $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $28.00 in Kunming, Yunnan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,059 in Beijing (Pekin) and $828 in Kunming, Yunnan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kunming, Yunnan, where all-in costs run around $828, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,059. In Kunming, Yunnan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kunming, Yunnan – 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 Kunming, Yunnan. 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.