πA single person spends $1,059 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,011 in Kurgan, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,761 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,544 in Kurgan, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,463 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $2,076 in Kurgan, rent included.
πBeijing (Pekin) costs about 5% more than Kurgan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Beijing (Pekin) and Kurgan are more affordable than the global median β Beijing (Pekin)21% lower, Kurgan25% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.15Β₯28.04
$6.37β½465
-34.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.92Β₯189
$45.10β½3,292
-38.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31Β₯35.88
$5.75β½419
-7.65%
Cappuccino
$3.04Β₯20.56
$2.27β½166
33.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Β₯3.11
$1.23β½89.5
-62.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30Β₯2.04
$0.40β½28.93
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.14Β₯7.71
$0.92β½67.0
23.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13Β₯14.42
$1.93β½141
10.36%
π Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72Β₯11.66
$1.03β½75.3
66.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59Β₯10.74
$0.56β½41.09
183.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10Β₯7.46
$1.45β½106
-24.14%
Eggs
$1.65Β₯11.15
$1.34β½98.1
23.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.89Β₯107
$10.11β½738
57.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.22Β₯21.75
$7.09β½518
-54.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.98Β₯67.5
$11.51β½840
-13.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11Β₯14.24
$1.85β½135
14.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Β₯10.76
$2.05β½150
-22.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74Β₯11.76
$2.04β½149
-14.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35Β₯9.11
$3.48β½254
-61.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.83Β₯5.64
$1.11β½81.3
-25.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92Β₯6.25
$0.80β½58.2
15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71Β₯4.83
$0.58β½42.36
22.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56Β₯3.79
$0.55β½40.04
1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45Β₯23.31
$2.49β½181
38.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.96Β₯101
$5.72β½418
161.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86Β₯5.80
$0.90β½65.7
-4.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84Β₯12.46
$1.64β½120
12.20%
π Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54Β₯3.66
$0.52β½38.20
3.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.39Β₯212
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85Β₯12.49
$1.94β½142
-4.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36Β₯2.41
$0.33β½23.93
9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.52Β₯71.1
$5.45β½398
93.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10Β₯7.41
$0.78β½56.6
41.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KΒ₯122.7K
$61.6Kβ½4.5M
-70.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.4KΒ₯104.0K
$31.4Kβ½2.3M
-50.97%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.7Β₯356
$140β½10.2K
-62.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.97Β₯60.7
$5.16β½377
73.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.62Β₯85.4
$7.60β½555
66.05%
π Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.30Β₯327
$36.13β½2,637
33.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.96Β₯121
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.17Β₯55.3
$3.91β½285
108.95%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$668Β₯4,516
$451β½33.0K
47.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.1KΒ₯162.8K
$4,504β½328.8K
434.56%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1Β₯413
$26.20β½1,913
133.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.02Β₯230
$16.54β½1,207
105.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.8Β₯519
$161β½11.7K
-52.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.1Β₯670
$186β½13.6K
-46.81%
π Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$916Β₯6,192
$450β½32.8K
103.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$455Β₯3,079
$305β½22.2K
49.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,913Β₯12.9K
$770β½56.2K
148.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,084Β₯7,328
$514β½37.5K
111.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.4KΒ₯83.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,323Β₯42.8K
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Kurgan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,569Β₯10.6K
$773β½56.5K
102.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
13.45
-72.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beijing (Pekin): May 30, 2026
Last update for Kurgan: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $916 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $450 in Kurgan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 103% higher in Beijing (Pekin), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $45.00 in Kurgan. Groceries tell a different story β $223 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $208 in Kurgan β so Kurgan 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 Kurgan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kurgan cheaper than Beijing (Pekin)?
Yes β Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,589 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,517 in Kurgan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 Kurgan?
How do food prices compare in Beijing (Pekin) and Kurgan?
Groceries cost about 8% 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 Beijing (Pekin) or Kurgan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kurgan, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,059. 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 β 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