Cost of Living Comparison Between Burkina Faso and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Burkina Faso and China

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $614 per month in Burkina Faso vs $720 in China, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,013 per month in Burkina Faso vs $1,148 in China, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,411 per month in Burkina Faso vs $1,576 in China, rent included.

The cost of living in Burkina Faso is roughly 15% lower than in China on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Burkina Faso and China are more affordable than the global median – Burkina Faso 55% lower, China 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72 F CFA 4,365
$2.93 ¥19.60
163.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.78 F CFA 15.1K
$22.72 ¥152
17.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.35 F CFA 4,150
$5.07 ¥33.95
44.97%
Cappuccino
$2.04 F CFA 1,152
$2.94 ¥19.70
-30.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 F CFA 642
$0.48 ¥3.21
137.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 F CFA 643
$0.30 ¥2.02
280.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 F CFA 687
$1.06 ¥7.10
15.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 F CFA 1,541
$2.25 ¥15.07
21.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 F CFA 1,205
$1.79 ¥11.99
18.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 F CFA 658
$1.70 ¥11.35
-31.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.86 F CFA 484
$0.96 ¥6.45
-10.42%
Eggs
$2.63 F CFA 1,485
$1.61 ¥10.79
63.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.67 F CFA 9,986
$13.60 ¥91.1
29.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$21.14 F CFA 11.9K
$3.41 ¥22.84
519.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.59 F CFA 8,811
$11.07 ¥74.2
40.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.96 F CFA 2,803
$1.81 ¥12.09
174.03%
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.30 ¥8.74
-
Oranges (1kg)
$3.44 F CFA 1,946
$1.48 ¥9.91
132.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.91 F CFA 2,209
$1.30 ¥8.72
200.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 F CFA 906
$0.72 ¥4.82
122.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 F CFA 1,018
$0.94 ¥6.31
91.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 F CFA 771
$0.61 ¥4.08
122.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 F CFA 786
$0.56 ¥3.73
148.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.41 F CFA 797
$3.67 ¥24.58
-61.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.15 F CFA 3,472
$11.90 ¥79.7
-48.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 F CFA 858
$0.83 ¥5.56
83.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 F CFA 1,476
$1.65 ¥11.08
58.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 F CFA 111
$0.29 ¥1.92
-31.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.61 ¥151
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 F CFA 286
$1.45 ¥9.72
-64.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 F CFA 516
$0.34 ¥2.31
167.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.82 F CFA 4,985
$7.27 ¥48.72
21.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 F CFA 835
$1.23 ¥8.26
20.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K F CFA 16.3M
$19.5K ¥130.9K
47.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K F CFA 18.2M
$17.2K ¥115.5K
86.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 F CFA 104.7K
$55.5 ¥371
234.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.19 F CFA 14.8K
$8.51 ¥57.0
207.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7 F CFA 31.4K
$10.81 ¥72.4
414.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 F CFA 35.1K
$40.02 ¥268
55.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.10 F CFA 5,141
$14.80 ¥99.1
-38.51%
Cinema Ticket
$7.14 F CFA 4,037
$6.73 ¥45.09
6.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$35.36 F CFA 20.0K
$454 ¥3,042
-92.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,120 F CFA 3.5M
$19.5K ¥130.8K
-68.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.56 F CFA 20.1K
$44.95 ¥301
-20.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2 F CFA 30.6K
$35.81 ¥240
51.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 F CFA 50.0K
$76.8 ¥514
15.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 F CFA 59.2K
$77.3 ¥518
35.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$351 F CFA 198.3K
$385 ¥2,581
-8.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 F CFA 132.6K
$242 ¥1,623
-3.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 F CFA 788.2K
$837 ¥5,603
66.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 F CFA 437.2K
$474 ¥3,177
63.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$894 F CFA 505.0K
$4,619 ¥30.9K
-80.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$267 F CFA 150.7K
$2,316 ¥15.5K
-88.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$613 F CFA 346.4K
$1,062 ¥7,110
-42.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
3.47
245.82%

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

Last update for Burkina Faso: September 7, 2026

Last update for China: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $174 in Burkina Faso vs $295 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $347 in Ouagadougou and $957 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $612 in Burkina Faso vs $865 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 70% higher in China.

Dining out costs 50% more in China.

Salaries are 41% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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
Burkina Faso vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burkina Faso more expensive than China?
Burkina Faso is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 39% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in China, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but China consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Burkina Faso, contributing to the overall 39% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Burkina Faso or in China?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Burkina Faso, but in China it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Burkina Faso or to China?
Burkina Faso 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.

Burkina Faso vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries