Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Mianyang, Sichuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Mianyang, Sichuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,079 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $689 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,806 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,068 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,532 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,447 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) costs about 57% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Beijing (Pekin) and Mianyang, Sichuan are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin) 19% lower, Mianyang, Sichuan 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.29 ¥29.02

$2.75 ¥18.64

56.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.07 ¥190

$16.68 ¥113

68.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.21 ¥35.28

$4.95 ¥33.47

5.25%

Cappuccino

$3.20 ¥21.65

$2.90 ¥19.63

10.34%

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

$0.42 ¥2.86

$0.44 ¥2.96

-4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.04

$0.29 ¥1.97

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 ¥7.60

$1.12 ¥7.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ¥13.84

$2.15 ¥14.53

-5.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ¥11.25

$1.35 ¥9.16

22.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ¥10.64

$1.45 ¥9.79

8.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ¥7.55

$0.85 ¥5.78

31.76%

Eggs

$1.74 ¥11.78

$1.94 ¥13.13

-10.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ¥108

$13.69 ¥92.7

16.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.18 ¥21.52

$3.31 ¥22.39

-3.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.78 ¥66.2

$11.33 ¥76.7

-13.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 ¥14.12

$1.80 ¥12.16

16.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ¥11.20

$1.17 ¥7.89

41.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.19

$1.44 ¥9.74

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 ¥9.02

$1.03 ¥6.96

29.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 ¥5.40

$0.70 ¥4.73

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.17

$0.76 ¥5.17

19.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ¥4.56

$0.58 ¥3.95

15.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ¥3.52

$0.58 ¥3.90

-10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.58 ¥24.23

$3.42 ¥23.13

4.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 ¥101

$5.39 ¥36.51

177.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.61

$0.82 ¥5.52

1.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ¥11.78

$1.27 ¥8.60

37.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ¥3.71

$0.27 ¥1.81

103.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.19 ¥211

$16.78 ¥114

85.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 ¥11.93

$0.98 ¥6.65

79.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ¥2.19

$0.26 ¥1.77

23.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.40 ¥70.4

$4.25 ¥28.77

144.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ¥7.34

$1.16 ¥7.87

-6.90%

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

$18.3K ¥124.1K

$18.9K ¥127.9K

-2.97%

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

$15.7K ¥106.1K

$16.3K ¥110.3K

-3.85%

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

$53.0 ¥359

$43.92 ¥297

20.65%

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

$8.64 ¥58.5

$6.03 ¥40.84

43.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.80 ¥86.6

$11.47 ¥77.6

11.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.93 ¥338

$41.75 ¥283

19.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.40 ¥125

$13.76 ¥93.1

33.72%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ¥55.5

$5.33 ¥36.05

53.66%

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

$659 ¥4,462

$343 ¥2,318

92.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K ¥161.0K

$12.1K ¥81.6K

97.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 ¥424

$36.91 ¥250

69.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.53 ¥234

$39.05 ¥264

-11.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 ¥537

$54.8 ¥371

44.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ¥694

$51.2 ¥346

100.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 ¥5,996

$280 ¥1,897

216.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$461 ¥3,123

$190 ¥1,284

143.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,938 ¥13.1K

$591 ¥4,001

227.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,073 ¥7,265

$362 ¥2,449

196.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.4K ¥84.1K

$2,626 ¥17.8K

373.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,153 ¥41.6K

$1,763 ¥11.9K

248.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,582 ¥10.7K

$737 ¥4,987

114.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.64

3.1

17.42%

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

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

Last update for Mianyang, Sichuan: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $886 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $280 in Mianyang, Sichuan. 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 115% 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 $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $17.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $188 – making Mianyang, Sichuan 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 Mianyang, Sichuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,619 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,034 in Mianyang, Sichuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mianyang, Sichuan, 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 $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $17.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,079 in Beijing (Pekin) and $689 in Mianyang, Sichuan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mianyang, Sichuan, where all-in costs run around $689, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,079. In Mianyang, Sichuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mianyang, Sichuan – 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 Mianyang, Sichuan. 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.