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 7.3% more expensive than Qingdao, Shandong without rent, and 37.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 10.4% more expensive than Qingdao, Shandong without rent, and 45.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 ¥29.26
$3.41 ¥24.46
19.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.3 ¥196
$18.17 ¥130
50.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ¥37.06
$4.52 ¥32.4
14.38%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥22.18
$3.42 ¥24.52
-9.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.26
$0.58 ¥4.14
-22.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.31 ¥2.23
-3.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.8
$0.87 ¥6.24
25.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥15.27
$2.03 ¥14.54
4.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.95 ¥14
-13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥11.74
$1.52 ¥10.9
7.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.66
$0.92 ¥6.59
16.30%
Eggs
$1.67 ¥12.01
$1.89 ¥13.55
-11.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.01 ¥115
$14.68 ¥105
9.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 ¥22.88
$4.23 ¥30.37
-24.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 ¥68.2
$10.18 ¥73
-6.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ¥14.88
$1.37 ¥9.8
51.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 ¥11.28
$1.15 ¥8.26
36.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.8 ¥12.93
$1.91 ¥13.71
-5.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥9.23
$1.01 ¥7.27
27.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.99
$0.75 ¥5.36
12.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.55
$1.09 ¥7.79
-16.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.83
$0.94 ¥6.72
-28.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.74
$0.47 ¥3.37
10.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.73
$3.98 ¥28.54
-13.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.69 ¥62.3
$13.84 ¥99.3
-37.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.04 ¥7.44
-23.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ¥12.58
$1.58 ¥11.32
10.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ¥3.85
$0.3 ¥2.17
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.25 ¥224
$16.62 ¥119
88.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ¥12.73
$1.43 ¥10.24
24.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.36
$0.32 ¥2.27
3.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 ¥76.4
$7.5 ¥53.8
41.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥8.19
$1.11 ¥7.98
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K ¥134.5K
$19.9K ¥143K
-6.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥111.9K
$13.3K ¥95.2K
17.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 ¥375
$52.4 ¥376
-0.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.86 ¥63.6
$10.92 ¥78.4
-18.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.53 ¥89.9
$10.39 ¥74.5
20.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.38 ¥347
$26.42 ¥190
83.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.48 ¥133
$20.84 ¥149
-11.32%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 ¥59.7
$6.88 ¥49.31
20.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 ¥4,766
$336 ¥2,412
97.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K ¥172.3K
$24.6K ¥176.6K
-2.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ¥440
$77.9 ¥559
-21.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ¥253
$38.63 ¥277
-8.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 ¥573
$79.8 ¥572
0.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥725
$102 ¥735
-1.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 ¥6,397
$342 ¥2,456
160.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ¥3,234
$190 ¥1,365
136.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 ¥14K
$730 ¥5,233
166.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 ¥7,836
$415 ¥2,976
163.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.7K ¥105.4K
$3,925 ¥28.2K
274.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,282 ¥45.1K
$2,394 ¥17.2K
162.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,425 ¥10.2K
$941 ¥6,750
51.46%
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): October 28, 2025

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: October 29, 2025

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