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

😐 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 14.6% more expensive than Shantou without rent, and 50.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 15% more expensive than Shantou without rent, and 68.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.3 ¥30.85
$2.14 ¥15.34
100.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.4 ¥197
$16.78 ¥120
63.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.31 ¥38.06
$4.77 ¥34.22
11.32%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥22.13
$3.09 ¥22.18
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ¥3.03
$0.48 ¥3.45
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.99
$0.28 ¥2.01
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.85
$0.88 ¥6.3
23.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.38
$2.69 ¥19.27
-20.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 ¥12.03
$1.69 ¥12.14
-0.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 ¥11.96
$1.41 ¥10.12
18.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.69
$0.72 ¥5.2
48.61%
Eggs
$1.72 ¥12.35
$1.93 ¥13.88
-10.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.91 ¥114
$12.67 ¥90.9
25.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.18 ¥22.79
$3.7 ¥26.57
-14.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.82 ¥70.5
$12.06 ¥86.5
-18.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ¥15.6
$1.89 ¥13.53
14.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ¥11.78
$1.42 ¥10.15
15.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ¥12.3
$1.66 ¥11.93
3.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥9.22
$1.22 ¥8.76
5.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.12
$0.82 ¥5.85
3.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 ¥7
$0.98 ¥7.06
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.79
$0.64 ¥4.62
4.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥4.03
$0.4 ¥2.88
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49 ¥25.04
$3.39 ¥24.29
2.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.58 ¥61.6
$11.67 ¥83.7
-26.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 ¥6.19
$0.82 ¥5.89
4.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 ¥13.04
$1.87 ¥13.4
-2.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 ¥3.91
$0.37 ¥2.63
48.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.5 ¥226
$22.08 ¥158
42.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ¥12.73
$1.52 ¥10.87
17.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.37
$0.36 ¥2.56
-8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.54 ¥75.6
$6.55 ¥47
60.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.85
$1.15 ¥8.25
-5.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ¥133.4K
$20.5K ¥147.4K
-9.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.5K ¥111.4K
$18.9K ¥135.7K
-17.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.8 ¥371
$54.3 ¥390
-4.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.88 ¥63.7
$8.31 ¥59.6
6.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.68 ¥91
$12.65 ¥90.7
0.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.34 ¥354
$41.85 ¥300
17.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.56 ¥133
$13.86 ¥99.4
33.91%
Cinema Ticket
$8.45 ¥60.6
$7.04 ¥50.5
20.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 ¥4,763
$463 ¥3,319
43.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.7K ¥170K
$20.2K ¥144.7K
17.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.5 ¥448
$48.13 ¥345
29.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.09 ¥252
$30.55 ¥219
14.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 ¥569
$76 ¥545
4.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ¥735
$77.7 ¥557
31.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 ¥6,461
$275 ¥1,973
227.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 ¥3,245
$142 ¥1,016
219.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,952 ¥14K
$559 ¥4,013
248.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 ¥7,666
$275 ¥1,972
288.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.7K ¥105.2K
$2,091 ¥15K
601.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,222 ¥44.6K
$3,207 ¥23K
93.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Shantou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,440 ¥10.3K
$1,009 ¥7,236
42.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
4.04
-9.90%

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

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): November 5, 2025

Last update for Shantou: November 4, 2025

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