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

😐 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 29.6% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 50.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 37.1% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 57.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19 Β₯28.98
$3.47 Β₯23.98
20.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.90 Β₯193
$27.84 Β₯192
0.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.34 Β₯36.89
$7.00 Β₯48.39
-23.71%
Cappuccino
$3.22 Β₯22.28
$3.09 Β₯21.38
4.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 Β₯3.17
$0.44 Β₯3.01
4.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Β₯1.92
$0.34 Β₯2.32
-17.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 Β₯7.60
$1.23 Β₯8.48
-10.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 Β₯14.13
$1.71 Β₯11.81
19.30%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Β₯12.05
$2.01 Β₯13.87
-13.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 Β₯11.02
$1.68 Β₯11.62
-4.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 Β₯7.43
$0.73 Β₯5.07
47.95%
Eggs
$1.67 Β₯11.56
$2.48 Β₯17.13
-32.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.05 Β₯111
$6.51 Β₯44.99
146.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 Β₯21.79
$2.74 Β₯18.97
14.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.46 Β₯65.3
$10.32 Β₯71.3
-8.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 Β₯14.78
$2.20 Β₯15.17
-2.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 Β₯10.91
$1.73 Β₯11.93
-8.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 Β₯12.03
$1.40 Β₯9.69
24.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 Β₯8.83
$0.83 Β₯5.72
54.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 Β₯5.44
$0.65 Β₯4.51
21.54%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 Β₯6.39
$0.91 Β₯6.31
1.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 Β₯4.64
$0.61 Β₯4.20
9.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Β₯3.90
$0.74 Β₯5.11
-24.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53 Β₯24.37
$3.15 Β₯21.75
12.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.16 Β₯63.3
$12.60 Β₯87.1
-27.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 Β₯5.58
$0.74 Β₯5.10
9.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 Β₯12.72
$1.66 Β₯11.49
10.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 Β₯3.72
$0.27 Β₯1.86
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.94 Β₯214
$16.69 Β₯115
85.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 Β₯12.29
$1.36 Β₯9.38
30.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Β₯2.44
$0.28 Β₯1.94
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.62 Β₯73.4
$6.48 Β₯44.78
63.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 Β₯7.87
$1.34 Β₯9.26
-14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K Β₯128.6K
$19.6K Β₯135.1K
-4.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9K Β₯109.6K
$17.0K Β₯117.3K
-6.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 Β₯355
$45.85 Β₯317
12.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91 Β₯61.6
$9.74 Β₯67.3
-8.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.72 Β₯87.9
$15.54 Β₯107
-18.15%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.38 Β₯341
$41.15 Β₯284
20.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.96 Β₯124
$13.81 Β₯95.4
30.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 Β₯57.1
$7.78 Β₯53.7
6.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 Β₯4,729
$331 Β₯2,287
106.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K Β₯161.6K
$17.1K Β₯118.3K
36.59%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1 Β₯422
$30.51 Β₯211
100.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.09 Β₯243
$30.80 Β₯213
13.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Β₯546
$67.7 Β₯468
16.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0 Β₯684
$46.16 Β₯319
114.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 Β₯6,171
$284 Β₯1,963
214.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 Β₯3,098
$186 Β₯1,288
140.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 Β₯13.4K
$588 Β₯4,060
231.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 Β₯7,567
$363 Β₯2,508
201.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.6K Β₯87.1K
$3,123 Β₯21.6K
303.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,295 Β₯43.5K
$1,999 Β₯13.8K
214.87%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Lhasa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,553 Β₯10.7K
$1,212 Β₯8,376
28.15%
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): March 1, 2026

Last update for Lhasa: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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