Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Xi'an Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Xi'an

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,177 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $709 in Xi'an, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,908 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,099 in Xi'an, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,639 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,489 in Xi'an, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) costs about 66% more than Xi'an, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Beijing (Pekin) and Xi'an are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin) 14% lower, Xi'an 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 ¥29.77

$2.75 ¥18.43

61.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.71 ¥199

$17.67 ¥118

68.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.36 ¥35.91

$4.44 ¥29.72

20.72%

Cappuccino

$3.55 ¥23.76

$2.18 ¥14.59

62.84%

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

$0.55 ¥3.68

$0.41 ¥2.73

34.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.79

$0.29 ¥1.95

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.20

$1.48 ¥9.88

-17.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ¥11.17

$1.46 ¥9.75

14.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ¥11.89

$1.41 ¥9.42

25.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 ¥11.21

$1.68 ¥11.25

-0.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.55

$0.84 ¥5.63

34.52%

Eggs

$2.01 ¥13.47

$1.47 ¥9.87

36.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 ¥96.5

$11.39 ¥76.3

26.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 ¥22.39

$3.53 ¥23.64

-5.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥72.6

$10.36 ¥69.4

4.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 ¥14.51

$1.65 ¥11.06

31.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.10

$1.15 ¥7.70

57.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ¥13.00

$1.27 ¥8.51

52.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 ¥10.50

$1.31 ¥8.75

19.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.82

$0.69 ¥4.64

4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.17

$0.76 ¥5.06

21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ¥4.68

$0.58 ¥3.90

20.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ¥4.12

$0.59 ¥3.95

5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 ¥27.86

$3.43 ¥22.97

21.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.66 ¥98.2

$8.40 ¥56.3

74.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ¥7.00

$0.79 ¥5.32

32.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥11.87

$1.64 ¥10.98

7.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ¥5.13

$0.31 ¥2.10

148.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.73 ¥233

$25.76 ¥173

34.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ¥12.90

$1.31 ¥8.76

47.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.38

$0.29 ¥1.94

20.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.33 ¥49.10

$4.41 ¥29.54

66.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ¥8.81

$1.28 ¥8.58

3.13%

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

$19.7K ¥131.8K

0.04%

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

$17.8K ¥119.4K

$17.8K ¥119.5K

-0.05%

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

$56.4 ¥377

$62.7 ¥420

-10.13%

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

$8.95 ¥60.0

$6.21 ¥41.59

44.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.53 ¥97.3

$10.44 ¥69.9

39.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.46 ¥264

$29.92 ¥200

31.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.00 ¥161

$20.76 ¥139

15.61%

Cinema Ticket

$7.64 ¥51.2

$5.84 ¥39.11

30.82%

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

$658 ¥4,408

$689 ¥4,618

-4.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.3K ¥162.5K

$17.3K ¥115.9K

40.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 ¥441

$38.49 ¥258

70.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.10 ¥255

$37.45 ¥251

1.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 ¥574

$74.4 ¥498

15.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 ¥831

$85.5 ¥572

45.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ¥6,598

$316 ¥2,116

211.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 ¥3,582

$178 ¥1,191

200.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,338 ¥15.7K

$866 ¥5,800

169.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 ¥7,424

$350 ¥2,346

216.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.5K ¥83.8K

$2,415 ¥16.2K

417.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,363 ¥42.6K

$1,649 ¥11.0K

285.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,663 ¥11.1K

$1,079 ¥7,229

54.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.21

3.35

-4.18%

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

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

Last update for Xi'an: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $316 in Xi'an. 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 54% 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 $18.00 in Xi'an. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $187 – making Xi'an 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 Xi'an: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 66%, 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 $1,063 in Xi'an. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Xi'an, 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 $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $18.00 in Xi'an. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,177 in Beijing (Pekin) and $709 in Xi'an. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Xi'an, where all-in costs run around $709, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,177. In Xi'an it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Xi'an – 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 Xi'an. 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.