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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,209 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $725 in Zhanjiang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,895 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,160 in Zhanjiang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,580 per month in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,596 in Zhanjiang, rent included.

Beijing (Pekin) costs about 67% more than Zhanjiang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Beijing (Pekin) and Zhanjiang are more affordable than the global median – Beijing (Pekin) 12% lower, Zhanjiang 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ¥29.52
$2.69 ¥18.02
63.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.24 ¥203
$19.27 ¥129
56.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.09 ¥34.13
$5.23 ¥35.07
-2.68%
Cappuccino
$3.40 ¥22.79
$2.70 ¥18.15
25.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ¥3.84
$0.42 ¥2.84
35.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.95
$0.31 ¥2.07
-6.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 ¥8.07
$1.15 ¥7.72
4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ¥10.87
$1.77 ¥11.89
-8.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ¥12.67
$1.87 ¥12.55
1.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥11.98
$1.62 ¥10.87
10.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 ¥7.42
$0.99 ¥6.67
12.12%
Eggs
$1.99 ¥13.36
$1.57 ¥10.52
26.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.81 ¥99.4
$12.85 ¥86.3
15.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ¥22.41
$3.11 ¥20.89
7.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥72.8
$12.14 ¥81.4
-10.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 ¥13.23
$1.89 ¥12.67
4.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 ¥12.75
$1.32 ¥8.83
43.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 ¥13.26
$1.50 ¥10.05
32.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 ¥10.86
$1.31 ¥8.81
23.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.12
$0.84 ¥5.63
-9.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.63
$1.00 ¥6.72
-16.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.55
$0.57 ¥3.85
19.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.90
$0.49 ¥3.25
18.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04 ¥27.13
$3.56 ¥23.88
13.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.90 ¥100
$13.16 ¥88.3
13.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 ¥7.22
$0.80 ¥5.36
35.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 ¥12.70
$1.78 ¥11.92
6.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 ¥5.20
$0.27 ¥1.80
185.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.53 ¥212
$19.49 ¥131
61.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.90 ¥12.75
$1.61 ¥10.80
18.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.35
$0.37 ¥2.45
-5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.37 ¥49.46
$7.50 ¥50.3
-1.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ¥8.33
$1.18 ¥7.95
5.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ¥127.2K
$20.9K ¥140.0K
-9.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K ¥120.7K
$19.3K ¥129.4K
-6.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.3 ¥364
$48.08 ¥323
12.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.91 ¥59.8
$8.21 ¥55.1
8.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.43 ¥96.9
$12.50 ¥83.9
15.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.40 ¥271
$37.48 ¥252
7.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.73 ¥159
$15.65 ¥105
51.63%
Cinema Ticket
$7.23 ¥48.52
$6.22 ¥41.76
16.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$661 ¥4,438
$359 ¥2,411
84.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.3K ¥169.8K
$18.2K ¥121.8K
39.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ¥422
$36.21 ¥243
73.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.30 ¥250
$33.86 ¥227
10.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 ¥591
$73.6 ¥494
19.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ¥822
$65.8 ¥441
86.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$959 ¥6,438
$258 ¥1,733
271.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ¥3,596
$170 ¥1,140
215.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,364 ¥15.9K
$560 ¥3,755
322.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 ¥7,426
$390 ¥2,615
183.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.3K ¥82.8K
$2,867 ¥19.2K
330.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,466 ¥43.4K
$1,703 ¥11.4K
279.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Zhanjiang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,662 ¥11.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.21
3.38
-5.03%

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

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): August 30, 2026

Last update for Zhanjiang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $959 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $258 in Zhanjiang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) versus $19.00 in Zhanjiang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $212 – making Zhanjiang 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 Zhanjiang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhanjiang cheaper than Beijing (Pekin)?
Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,087 in Zhanjiang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhanjiang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Beijing (Pekin) or in Zhanjiang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin) and $19.00 in Zhanjiang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Beijing (Pekin) and in Zhanjiang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,209 in Beijing (Pekin) and $725 in Zhanjiang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Beijing (Pekin) or in Zhanjiang?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhanjiang, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,209. In Zhanjiang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Beijing (Pekin) or Zhanjiang more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhanjiang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zhanjiang. 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.

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