Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Qingdao, Shandong Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Qingdao, Shandong

😐 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 4.5% more expensive than Qingdao, Shandong without rent, and 36.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 10.7% more expensive than Qingdao, Shandong without rent, and 42.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19 ¥28.98
$3.25 ¥22.43
28.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.90 ¥193
$18.20 ¥126
53.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.34 ¥36.89
$4.46 ¥30.82
19.73%
Cappuccino
$3.22 ¥22.28
$3.41 ¥23.57
-5.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.17
$0.54 ¥3.71
-14.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.92
$0.29 ¥1.97
-3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 ¥7.60
$0.83 ¥5.73
32.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ¥14.13
$2.04 ¥14.10
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ¥12.05
$2.00 ¥13.80
-13.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ¥11.02
$1.54 ¥10.62
3.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 ¥7.43
$0.93 ¥6.42
16.13%
Eggs
$1.67 ¥11.56
$1.89 ¥13.05
-11.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.05 ¥111
$14.76 ¥102
8.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 ¥21.79
$4.17 ¥28.79
-24.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.46 ¥65.3
$10.41 ¥71.9
-9.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 ¥14.78
$1.37 ¥9.49
56.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 ¥10.91
$1.21 ¥8.38
30.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 ¥12.03
$1.92 ¥13.27
-9.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 ¥8.83
$1.05 ¥7.26
21.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.74 ¥5.09
6.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.39
$1.14 ¥7.89
-19.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.64
$0.96 ¥6.63
-30.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.90
$0.51 ¥3.54
9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53 ¥24.37
$3.80 ¥26.23
-7.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.16 ¥63.3
$13.96 ¥96.4
-34.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥5.58
$1.00 ¥6.91
-19.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ¥12.72
$1.60 ¥11.06
15.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ¥3.72
$0.30 ¥2.09
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.94 ¥214
$16.40 ¥113
88.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ¥12.29
$1.36 ¥9.43
30.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.44
$0.32 ¥2.20
9.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.62 ¥73.4
$7.33 ¥50.7
44.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥7.87
$1.11 ¥7.70
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ¥128.6K
$20.1K ¥139.1K
-7.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9K ¥109.6K
$13.5K ¥93.3K
17.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥355
$51.3 ¥355
0.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91 ¥61.6
$10.97 ¥75.8
-18.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.72 ¥87.9
$10.35 ¥71.5
22.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.38 ¥341
$26.67 ¥184
85.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.96 ¥124
$20.74 ¥143
-13.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ¥57.1
$6.89 ¥47.64
19.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 ¥4,729
$330 ¥2,279
107.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K ¥161.6K
$24.3K ¥168.1K
-3.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1 ¥422
$76.1 ¥526
-19.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.09 ¥243
$37.73 ¥261
-7.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 ¥546
$79.1 ¥546
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0 ¥684
$100 ¥692
-1.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 ¥6,171
$338 ¥2,336
164.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ¥3,098
$194 ¥1,340
131.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 ¥13.4K
$743 ¥5,137
161.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 ¥7,567
$411 ¥2,838
166.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.6K ¥87.1K
$3,619 ¥25.0K
248.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,295 ¥43.5K
$2,178 ¥15.1K
189.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,553 ¥10.7K
$1,059 ¥7,320
46.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
3.81
-4.46%

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

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): March 1, 2026

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: March 3, 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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