😐A single person spends $1,073 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $701 in Linfen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,769 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,126 in Linfen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,464 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,551 in Linfen, rent included.
😐Beijing (Pekin) costs about 53% more than Linfen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Beijing (Pekin) and Linfen are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin)20% lower, Linfen48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.29¥28.98
$2.87¥19.42
49.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.28¥191
$20.48¥138
38.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.19¥35.08
$4.98¥33.66
4.22%
Cappuccino
$3.08¥20.83
$2.94¥19.84
4.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42¥2.86
$0.43¥2.93
-2.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28¥1.87
$0.29¥1.98
-3.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.31
$0.88¥5.92
22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥13.85
$2.13¥14.41
-3.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67¥11.26
$1.84¥12.46
-9.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61¥10.86
$1.56¥10.54
3.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12¥7.56
$0.96¥6.49
16.67%
Eggs
$1.71¥11.55
$1.56¥10.51
9.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.76¥106
$12.64¥85.4
24.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19¥21.55
$3.23¥21.84
-1.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.85¥66.5
$10.08¥68.1
-2.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09¥14.14
$1.71¥11.58
22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66¥11.22
$1.25¥8.47
32.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77¥11.96
$1.35¥9.12
31.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27¥8.59
$1.14¥7.69
11.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85¥5.78
$0.68¥4.61
25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91¥6.13
$0.98¥6.61
-7.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67¥4.52
$0.56¥3.82
19.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52¥3.51
$0.52¥3.50
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44¥23.25
$3.09¥20.89
11.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.79¥99.9
$10.28¥69.5
43.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86¥5.78
$0.73¥4.97
17.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74¥11.77
$1.58¥10.66
10.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55¥3.71
$0.27¥1.80
103.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.84¥215
$16.79¥113
89.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.84¥12.46
$1.35¥9.12
36.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.37
$0.35¥2.37
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.33¥69.8
$6.61¥44.68
56.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.69
$1.13¥7.66
0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K¥127.4K
$19.4K¥131.0K
-2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9K¥107.4K
$16.6K¥112.0K
-4.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.5¥348
$46.67¥315
10.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.84¥59.7
$9.60¥64.9
-7.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.44¥84.1
$11.66¥78.8
6.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.69¥336
$42.11¥285
18.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.49¥125
$13.74¥92.8
34.57%
Cinema Ticket
$8.29¥56.1
$6.22¥42.02
33.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$679¥4,588
$336¥2,272
101.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.5K¥158.6K
$17.0K¥115.1K
37.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7¥423
$44.07¥298
42.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.13¥231
$30.73¥208
11.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0¥520
$70.7¥478
8.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100¥679
$72.8¥492
37.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894¥6,044
$273¥1,846
227.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$464¥3,133
$191¥1,289
143.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,906¥12.9K
$598¥4,041
218.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,077¥7,277
$357¥2,413
201.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.6K¥85.1K
$3,520¥23.8K
257.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,257¥42.3K
$1,950¥13.2K
220.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Linfen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,569¥10.6K
-
-
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): July 12, 2026
Last update for Linfen: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $894 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $273 in Linfen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $20.00 in Linfen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $195 – making Linfen 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 Linfen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Linfen cheaper than Beijing (Pekin)?
Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 53%, 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 $1,610 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,051 in Linfen. 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 Linfen, 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 Linfen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $20.00 in Linfen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Beijing (Pekin) and in Linfen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,073 in Beijing (Pekin) and $701 in Linfen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Beijing (Pekin) or in Linfen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Linfen, where all-in costs run around $701, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,073. In Linfen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Beijing (Pekin) or Linfen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Linfen – 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 Linfen. 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