Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Benxi and Beijing (Pekin)

For one person, living is cheaper in Benxi: $692 a month against $1,197 in Beijing (Pekin), rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Benxi, China
Beijing (Pekin), China
Benxi
🇨🇳 China
$692
/mo nomad
Beijing (Pekin)
🇨🇳 China
$1,197
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Benxi and in Beijing (Pekin)

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

A single person spends $692 per month in Benxi vs $1,197 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

  • Benxi $692
  • Beijing (Pekin) $1,197

A couple spends around $991 per month in Benxi vs $1,913 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

  • Benxi $991
  • Beijing (Pekin) $1,913

A family of three spends $1,291 per month in Benxi vs $2,630 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

  • Benxi $1,291
  • Beijing (Pekin) $2,630

Benxi is about 42% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Benxi and Beijing (Pekin) are more affordable than the global median – Benxi 49% lower, Beijing (Pekin) 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 ¥20.25
$4.42 ¥29.44
-31.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.33 ¥149
$29.66 ¥198
-24.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.31 ¥35.36
$5.37 ¥35.82
-1.12%
Cappuccino
$2.40 ¥16.03
$3.73 ¥24.85
-35.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.40
$0.56 ¥3.71
-8.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.90
$0.29 ¥1.95
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.73 ¥4.86
$1.19 ¥7.93
-38.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 ¥11.73
$1.73 ¥11.56
1.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥12.32
$1.72 ¥11.44
7.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 ¥8.11
$1.77 ¥11.82
-31.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.62
$1.29 ¥8.63
-34.88%
Eggs
$1.60 ¥10.69
$1.91 ¥12.76
-16.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.00 ¥66.6
$14.70 ¥98.0
-31.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.85 ¥18.98
$3.22 ¥21.50
-11.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.92 ¥59.5
$11.23 ¥74.8
-20.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 ¥10.78
$2.13 ¥14.17
-23.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 ¥9.20
$1.79 ¥11.91
-22.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ¥10.79
$2.05 ¥13.64
-20.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 ¥9.14
$1.53 ¥10.21
-10.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ¥3.89
$0.74 ¥4.90
-21.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 ¥12.30
$0.92 ¥6.16
101.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.10
$0.69 ¥4.60
-11.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ¥4.58
$0.61 ¥4.05
13.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ¥19.81
$4.44 ¥29.62
-33.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.24 ¥54.9
$14.00 ¥93.4
-41.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.86
$1.03 ¥6.85
-43.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 ¥8.33
$1.80 ¥12.03
-30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.10
$0.59 ¥3.90
-47.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.21 ¥81.4
$32.53 ¥217
-62.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 ¥5.86
$2.00 ¥13.35
-56.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ¥1.92
$0.33 ¥2.19
-12.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.98 ¥19.88
$7.68 ¥51.2
-61.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥7.55
$1.30 ¥8.65
-13.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ¥132.1K
$19.7K ¥131.6K
0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K ¥119.8K
$18.0K ¥120.0K
-0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.4 ¥362
$58.8 ¥392
-7.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.70 ¥44.65
$8.71 ¥58.1
-23.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.41 ¥69.4
$14.51 ¥96.7
-28.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.3 ¥442
$46.71 ¥311
41.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.31 ¥55.4
$24.48 ¥163
-66.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 ¥40.21
$7.60 ¥50.7
-20.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 ¥2,994
$985 ¥6,567
-54.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,894 ¥59.3K
$24.5K ¥163.4K
-63.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.74 ¥198
$72.1 ¥480
-58.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.77 ¥218
$40.22 ¥268
-18.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.2 ¥401
$86.8 ¥578
-30.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.4 ¥349
$126 ¥840
-58.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$137 ¥910
$933 ¥6,219
-85.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 ¥1,262
$530 ¥3,529
-64.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$258 ¥1,717
$2,279 ¥15.2K
-88.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 ¥1,018
$1,096 ¥7,304
-86.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,371 ¥22.5K
$11.8K ¥78.7K
-71.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,941 ¥12.9K
$6,566 ¥43.8K
-70.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benxi
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$447 ¥2,980
$1,707 ¥11.4K
-73.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
3.12
28.21%

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

Last update for Benxi: October 25, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Benxi
$189
Beijing (Pekin)
$530 180% $340
Groceries & Markets
Benxi
$179
Beijing (Pekin)
$230 28.2% $51
Eating Out
Benxi
$79
Beijing (Pekin)
$109 37.2% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Benxi
$79
Beijing (Pekin)
$146 85.7% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Benxi
$78
Beijing (Pekin)
$62 21% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benxi
$71
Beijing (Pekin)
$82 14.8% $11
Getting Around
Benxi
$16
Beijing (Pekin)
$39 144% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $137 in Benxi versus $933 in Beijing (Pekin). Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Beijing (Pekin) are about 3.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22 in Benxi versus $30 in Beijing (Pekin). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $230 – making Benxi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Benxi
🇨🇳 Beijing (Pekin)
🕒 Local time
22:01 10:01 PM
22:01 10:01 PM
Same time as Benxi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
809,655
21,893,095 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 6.67 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.42 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Benxi Beijing (Pekin) 640 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Benxi
  • Beijing (Pekin)

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
Benxi vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benxi cheaper than Beijing (Pekin)?
Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 73%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,039 per month in Benxi and $1,796 in Beijing (Pekin). 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 Benxi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $137 there versus $933 in Beijing (Pekin).
Is eating out cheaper in Benxi or in Beijing (Pekin)?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22 in Benxi and $30 in Beijing (Pekin). That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Benxi and in Beijing (Pekin)?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $692 in Benxi and $1,197 in Beijing (Pekin). That’s a gap of about 73%.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Benxi or in Beijing (Pekin)?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Benxi, where all-in costs run around $692, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,197. In Benxi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Benxi or Beijing (Pekin) more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Benxi – 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 Benxi. 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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