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

😐 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 30.2% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 46.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 18.7% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 58.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 ¥29.26
$3.53 ¥25.31
15.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.3 ¥196
$27.6 ¥198
-1.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ¥37.06
$6.78 ¥48.61
-23.75%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥22.18
$2.93 ¥21.01
5.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.26
$0.4 ¥2.9
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.34 ¥2.41
-11.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.8
$1.27 ¥9.09
-14.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥15.27
$1.77 ¥12.67
20.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ¥12.1
$2.04 ¥14.63
-17.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥11.74
$1.73 ¥12.44
-5.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.66
$0.79 ¥5.67
35.44%
Eggs
$1.67 ¥12.01
$2.39 ¥17.16
-30.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.01 ¥115
$6.81 ¥48.88
135.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 ¥22.88
$2.76 ¥19.77
15.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 ¥68.2
$10.12 ¥72.6
-6.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ¥14.88
$2.2 ¥15.76
-5.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 ¥11.28
$1.66 ¥11.93
-5.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.8 ¥12.93
$1.4 ¥10.07
28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥9.23
$0.83 ¥5.97
55.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.99
$0.65 ¥4.68
29.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.55
$0.91 ¥6.56
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.83
$0.6 ¥4.31
11.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.74
$0.8 ¥5.73
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.73
$3.07 ¥22.02
12.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.69 ¥62.3
$12.53 ¥89.9
-30.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.74 ¥5.32
8.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ¥12.58
$1.6 ¥11.5
9.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ¥3.85
$0.27 ¥1.91
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.25 ¥224
$16.43 ¥118
90.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ¥12.73
$1.41 ¥10.11
26.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.36
$0.26 ¥1.86
26.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 ¥76.4
$6.74 ¥48.38
57.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥8.19
$1.3 ¥9.34
-12.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K ¥134.5K
$19.7K ¥141.2K
-4.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥111.9K
$16.8K ¥120.4K
-7.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 ¥375
$46.59 ¥334
12.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.86 ¥63.6
$9.74 ¥69.9
-9.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.53 ¥89.9
$15.46 ¥111
-18.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.38 ¥347
$41.05 ¥294
17.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.48 ¥133
$13.78 ¥98.9
34.11%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 ¥59.7
$7.78 ¥55.8
6.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 ¥4,766
$339 ¥2,434
95.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K ¥172.3K
$17.1K ¥123K
40.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ¥440
$29.8 ¥214
105.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ¥253
$30.97 ¥222
13.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 ¥573
$70 ¥502
14.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥725
$45.75 ¥328
120.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 ¥6,397
$274 ¥1,964
225.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ¥3,234
$188 ¥1,346
140.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 ¥14K
$602 ¥4,318
223.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 ¥7,836
$363 ¥2,604
200.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.7K ¥105.4K
$2,986 ¥21.4K
392.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,282 ¥45.1K
$2,034 ¥14.6K
208.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,425 ¥10.2K
$1,195 ¥8,574
19.24%
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): October 28, 2025

Last update for Lhasa: October 29, 2025

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