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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,178 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $732 in Lhasa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,907 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,200 in Lhasa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,636 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,668 in Lhasa, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) costs about 61% more than Lhasa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Beijing (Pekin) and Lhasa are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin) 15% lower, Lhasa 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.40 ¥29.45

$4.42 ¥29.61

-0.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.96 ¥201

$30.01 ¥201

-0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.32 ¥35.60

$7.55 ¥50.6

-29.54%

Cappuccino

$3.41 ¥22.87

$2.71 ¥18.16

25.83%

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

$0.57 ¥3.80

$0.44 ¥2.94

29.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.79

$0.31 ¥2.05

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 ¥7.85

$1.46 ¥9.76

-19.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 ¥11.31

$2.00 ¥13.42

-15.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ¥12.68

$1.82 ¥12.19

3.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 ¥11.32

$1.64 ¥10.99

3.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ¥7.71

$0.93 ¥6.23

23.66%

Eggs

$2.07 ¥13.85

$1.64 ¥11.00

26.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 ¥98.5

$7.12 ¥47.69

106.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 ¥22.59

$2.98 ¥19.98

13.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.59 ¥70.9

$11.33 ¥75.9

-6.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 ¥13.95

$1.86 ¥12.47

11.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ¥12.68

$1.31 ¥8.74

44.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ¥12.79

$1.53 ¥10.25

24.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 ¥10.86

$1.31 ¥8.75

23.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.73

$0.70 ¥4.70

1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 ¥5.84

$0.94 ¥6.30

-7.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 ¥4.90

$0.62 ¥4.15

17.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥3.94

$0.60 ¥4.00

-1.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 ¥27.81

$3.63 ¥24.30

14.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 ¥99.2

$11.61 ¥77.8

27.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ¥6.83

$0.80 ¥5.35

27.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ¥12.60

$1.62 ¥10.85

16.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ¥5.13

$0.29 ¥1.92

165.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.99 ¥214

$18.10 ¥121

76.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ¥12.71

$1.53 ¥10.27

24.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 ¥2.38

$0.35 ¥2.37

2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.48 ¥50.1

$6.89 ¥46.14

8.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥8.80

$1.26 ¥8.46

3.97%

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

$19.6K ¥131.4K

$19.2K ¥128.4K

2.30%

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

$18.5K ¥124.1K

$17.1K ¥114.6K

8.35%

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

$55.2 ¥370

$55.5 ¥372

-0.50%

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

$9.08 ¥60.8

$8.32 ¥55.8

9.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.38 ¥96.3

$11.32 ¥75.8

27.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ¥277

$41.57 ¥278

-0.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.36 ¥163

$14.87 ¥99.6

63.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.28 ¥48.74

$6.30 ¥42.20

15.56%

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

$648 ¥4,337

$415 ¥2,781

55.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.7K ¥171.9K

$16.4K ¥110.0K

56.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.8 ¥434

$42.30 ¥283

53.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.72 ¥246

$33.34 ¥223

10.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 ¥596

$75.3 ¥504

18.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ¥816

$74.5 ¥499

63.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$957 ¥6,410

$291 ¥1,946

229.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 ¥3,582

$180 ¥1,203

197.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,368 ¥15.9K

$603 ¥4,036

293.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,127 ¥7,550

$378 ¥2,533

198.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.4K ¥83.3K

$3,210 ¥21.5K

287.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,369 ¥42.7K

$1,907 ¥12.8K

233.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,656 ¥11.1K

$2,101 ¥14.1K

-21.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.21

3.38

-5.03%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): September 7, 2026

Last update for Lhasa: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $291 in Lhasa. 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 27% higher in Lhasa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $30.00 in Lhasa. Groceries tell a different story – $231 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $189 in Lhasa – so Lhasa 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 Lhasa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 61%, 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 $1,767 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,098 in Lhasa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lhasa, 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 $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $30.00 in Lhasa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,178 in Beijing (Pekin) and $732 in Lhasa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lhasa, where all-in costs run around $732, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,178. In Lhasa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lhasa – 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 Lhasa. 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.