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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,177 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $455 in Longyan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,908 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $753 in Longyan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,639 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,052 in Longyan, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) costs about 159% more than Longyan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Beijing (Pekin) and Longyan are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin) 14% lower, Longyan 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 ¥29.77

$3.03 ¥20.32

46.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.71 ¥199

$21.97 ¥147

35.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.36 ¥35.91

$5.23 ¥35.03

2.49%

Cappuccino

$3.55 ¥23.76

$2.25 ¥15.05

57.78%

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

$0.55 ¥3.68

$0.49 ¥3.27

12.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.79

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.20

$0.85 ¥5.70

43.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ¥11.17

$1.67 ¥11.22

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ¥11.89

$2.07 ¥13.87

-14.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥11.21

$1.46 ¥9.80

14.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.55

$0.71 ¥4.75

59.15%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥13.47

$1.51 ¥10.14

33.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 ¥96.5

$7.33 ¥49.12

96.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 ¥22.39

$2.96 ¥19.83

12.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥72.6

$9.26 ¥62.0

16.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 ¥14.51

$1.86 ¥12.47

16.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.10

$1.31 ¥8.79

38.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ¥13.00

$1.70 ¥11.36

14.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ¥10.50

$1.12 ¥7.48

40.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.82

$0.85 ¥5.66

-15.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.17

$0.99 ¥6.60

-7.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ¥4.68

$0.43 ¥2.89

62.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ¥4.12

$0.52 ¥3.51

19.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ¥27.86

$3.26 ¥21.86

27.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 ¥98.2

$12.10 ¥81.0

21.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ¥7.00

$0.77 ¥5.14

36.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥11.87

$1.16 ¥7.76

52.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ¥5.13

$0.13 ¥0.86

492.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.73 ¥233

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ¥12.90

$1.06 ¥7.10

82.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.38

$0.47 ¥3.13

-25.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.33 ¥49.10

$7.61 ¥51.0

-3.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ¥8.81

$1.22 ¥8.14

8.20%

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

$19.7K ¥131.8K

$19.4K ¥129.9K

1.49%

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

$17.8K ¥119.4K

$15.3K ¥102.6K

16.39%

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

$56.4 ¥377

$65.1 ¥436

-13.48%

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

$8.95 ¥60.0

$15.70 ¥105

-42.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.53 ¥97.3

$9.09 ¥60.9

59.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.46 ¥264

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.00 ¥161

$4.51 ¥30.20

432.15%

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 ¥51.2

$7.29 ¥48.84

4.80%

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

$658 ¥4,408

$208 ¥1,395

216.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K ¥162.5K

$11.9K ¥79.5K

104.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 ¥441

$29.86 ¥200

120.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.10 ¥255

$14.78 ¥99.0

157.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 ¥574

$75.7 ¥507

13.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ¥831

$95.9 ¥642

29.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ¥6,598

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 ¥3,582

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 ¥15.7K

$376 ¥2,515

522.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 ¥7,424

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.5K ¥83.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,363 ¥42.6K

$1,321 ¥8,846

381.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,663 ¥11.1K

$499 ¥3,340

233.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.21

3.22

-0.31%

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

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): September 14, 2026

Last update for Longyan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 233% higher in Beijing (Pekin), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $22.00 in Longyan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $181 – making Longyan 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 Longyan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 159%, 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 $1,765 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $683 in Longyan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $22.00 in Longyan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Longyan, where all-in costs run around $455, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,177. In Longyan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Longyan – 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 Longyan. 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.