Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belarus and China

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $800 a month against $922 in Belarus, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇧🇾 Belarus
$922
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$800
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belarus and in China

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Belarus and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $922 per month in Belarus vs $800 in China, rent included.

  • Belarus $922
  • China $800

A couple spends around $1,466 per month in Belarus vs $1,266 in China, rent included.

  • Belarus $1,466
  • China $1,266

A family of three spends $2,010 per month in Belarus vs $1,731 in China, rent included.

  • Belarus $2,010
  • China $1,731

The regional cost range is wider in China ($462–$1,256) than in Belarus ($523–$1,029), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Belarus is about 15% higher than in China on average.

Both Belarus and China are more affordable than the global median – Belarus 32% lower, China 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belarus
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19 BYN 30.58
$2.92 ¥19.50
248.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.17 BYN 121
$22.45 ¥150
78.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.74 BYN 20.22
$5.33 ¥35.65
26.45%
Cappuccino
$2.25 BYN 6.76
$3.04 ¥20.34
-25.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 BYN 2.66
$0.48 ¥3.23
85.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 BYN 1.56
$0.30 ¥2.02
73.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 BYN 4.98
$1.07 ¥7.12
55.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 BYN 8.25
$2.26 ¥15.11
21.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belarus
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 BYN 2.65
$1.75 ¥11.70
-49.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 BYN 1.97
$1.62 ¥10.80
-59.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 BYN 3.77
$0.99 ¥6.63
27.27%
Eggs
$1.62 BYN 4.86
$1.56 ¥10.44
3.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.51 BYN 22.53
$13.25 ¥88.6
-43.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.71 BYN 14.14
$3.37 ¥22.50
39.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 BYN 27.79
$11.39 ¥76.2
-18.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.44 BYN 4.31
$1.82 ¥12.19
-20.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 BYN 5.24
$1.25 ¥8.34
40.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 BYN 6.49
$1.55 ¥10.39
39.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 BYN 7.34
$1.28 ¥8.55
91.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 BYN 1.89
$0.71 ¥4.72
-11.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 BYN 2.11
$0.86 ¥5.75
-18.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 BYN 4.20
$0.65 ¥4.36
115.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 BYN 1.80
$0.59 ¥3.97
1.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.70 BYN 8.10
$3.76 ¥25.14
-28.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.36 BYN 25.09
$11.76 ¥78.6
-28.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 BYN 3.24
$0.91 ¥6.11
18.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 BYN 5.68
$1.62 ¥10.86
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Belarus
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 BYN 0.99
$0.31 ¥2.10
6.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.33 BYN 55.0
$22.75 ¥152
-19.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 BYN 3.10
$1.52 ¥10.17
-32.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 BYN 1.73
$0.37 ¥2.50
56.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.91 BYN 47.73
$7.28 ¥48.66
118.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 BYN 2.66
$1.25 ¥8.38
-28.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K BYN 60.3K
$19.4K ¥129.7K
3.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K BYN 70.2K
$17.1K ¥114.4K
36.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belarus
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.8 BYN 185
$55.5 ¥371
11.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.49 BYN 25.48
$8.29 ¥55.4
2.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.01 BYN 39.04
$10.97 ¥73.3
18.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belarus
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.88 BYN 105
$40.38 ¥270
-13.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.02 BYN 48.05
$14.76 ¥98.7
8.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 BYN 14.90
$6.76 ¥45.18
-26.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belarus
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$334 BYN 1,001
$465 ¥3,108
-28.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.2K BYN 66.6K
$19.6K ¥131.2K
13.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belarus
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 BYN 163
$46.32 ¥310
16.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.17 BYN 130
$36.30 ¥243
18.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 BYN 301
$76.3 ¥510
31.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9 BYN 288
$78.8 ¥527
21.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belarus
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$460 BYN 1,381
$396 ¥2,646
16.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$308 BYN 925
$240 ¥1,604
28.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$757 BYN 2,271
$822 ¥5,499
-7.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$550 BYN 1,649
$466 ¥3,116
17.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,956 BYN 5,867
$4,544 ¥30.4K
-56.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,300 BYN 3,901
$2,282 ¥15.3K
-43.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belarus
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$736 BYN 2,207
$1,075 ¥7,188
-31.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.65
3.46
352.31%

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

Last update for Belarus: October 19, 2026

Last update for China: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belarus
$308
China
$240 22.2% $68
Groceries & Markets
Belarus
$181
China
$209 15.1% $27
Eating Out
Belarus
$148
China
$89 40.1% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Belarus
$132
China
$107 19.1% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belarus
$83
China
$75 10.2% $8.5
Sport & Entertainment
Belarus
$45
China
$54 20.3% $9.1
Getting Around
Belarus
$24
China
$27 16.2% $3.8

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $311 in Belarus vs $299 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $582 in Minsk and $945 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $587 in Belarus vs $870 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 95% more in Belarus.

Public transport is 21% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 48% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

Good to know
🇧🇾 Belarus
🇨🇳 China
🕒 Local time
08:32 8:32 AM
13:32 1:32 PM
5 h ahead of Belarus
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,155,978
1,442,965,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to BYN – Belarusian Ruble Converter

Belarusian Ruble exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 3 BYN (1 BYN = 0.333 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 BYN (1 BYN = 0.297 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belarus China 6,470 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Belarus
  • China

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Belarus vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Belarus or China?
China is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 15% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Belarus or in China?
Housing costs more in Belarus: a central one-bedroom averages $311 versus $299 in China.
Can you live in both Belarus and China on $2,000 per month?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in China, but in Belarus it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Belarus or China?
China is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Belarus vs other spots: cost of living compared

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