😐A single person spends $1,209 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $787 in Kurgan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,895 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,281 in Kurgan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,580 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,774 in Kurgan, rent included.
😐Beijing (Pekin) costs about 54% more than Kurgan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Beijing (Pekin) and Kurgan are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin)12% lower, Kurgan43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40¥29.52
$6.18₽535
-28.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.24¥203
$27.79₽2,405
8.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.09¥34.13
$5.18₽448
-1.74%
Cappuccino
$3.40¥22.79
$2.45₽212
38.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57¥3.84
$0.89₽77.2
-35.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.95
$0.45₽38.65
-35.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.20¥8.07
$3.44₽298
-65.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62¥10.87
$4.12₽356
-60.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89¥12.67
$1.03₽89.4
83.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79¥11.98
$0.59₽51.3
203.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11¥7.42
$1.31₽113
-15.27%
Eggs
$1.99¥13.36
$1.21₽105
64.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.81¥99.4
$11.25₽974
31.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.34¥22.41
$5.04₽436
-33.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.85¥72.8
$9.55₽826
13.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97¥13.23
$1.53₽133
28.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90¥12.75
$1.67₽144
13.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98¥13.26
$1.68₽145
17.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62¥10.86
$2.55₽221
-36.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76¥5.12
$0.75₽65.1
1.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84¥5.63
$0.71₽61.8
18.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68¥4.55
$1.59₽138
-57.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58¥3.90
$0.53₽45.72
9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04¥27.13
$2.71₽235
49.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.90¥100
$4.66₽403
219.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08¥7.22
$0.82₽70.7
31.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89¥12.70
$1.67₽145
13.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77¥5.20
$0.50₽43.00
54.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.53¥212
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.90¥12.75
$1.76₽152
7.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.35
$0.60₽51.7
-41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37¥49.46
$6.86₽593
7.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24¥8.33
$0.77₽66.8
61.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K¥127.2K
$23.4K₽2.0M
-19.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K¥120.7K
$28.7K₽2.5M
-37.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.3¥364
$72.8₽6,296
-25.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91¥59.8
$4.55₽394
95.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.43¥96.9
$8.15₽705
77.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.40¥271
$44.37₽3,840
-8.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.73¥159
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.23¥48.52
$3.83₽331
88.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$661¥4,438
$114₽9,847
481.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.3K¥169.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0¥422
$46.35₽4,011
35.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.30¥250
$14.84₽1,284
151.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1¥591
$77.7₽6,726
13.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122¥822
$65.7₽5,685
86.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$959¥6,438
$287₽24.9K
233.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$536¥3,596
$229₽19.8K
133.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,364¥15.9K
$572₽49.5K
313.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,107¥7,426
$511₽44.3K
116.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.3K¥82.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,466¥43.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,662¥11.2K
$641₽55.5K
159.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.21
20.34
-84.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beijing (Pekin): August 30, 2026
Last update for Kurgan: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $959 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $287 in Kurgan. 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 159% 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 $28.00 in Kurgan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $184 – making Kurgan 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 Kurgan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kurgan cheaper than Beijing (Pekin)?
Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,813 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,181 in Kurgan. 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 Kurgan, 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 Kurgan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $28.00 in Kurgan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Beijing (Pekin) and in Kurgan?
Groceries cost about 26% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Beijing (Pekin) or in Kurgan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kurgan, where all-in costs run around $787, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,209. In Kurgan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Beijing (Pekin) or Kurgan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kurgan – 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 Kurgan. 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