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 $515 per month in Burkina Faso vs $712 in China, rent included.

A couple spends around $849 per month in Burkina Faso vs $1,131 in China, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,183 per month in Burkina Faso vs $1,550 in China, rent included.

The cost of living in Burkina Faso is roughly 28% 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 61% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.38 F CFA 3,084
$2.86 ¥19.35
88.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.15 F CFA 13.9K
$23.44 ¥159
3.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 F CFA 4,588
$4.84 ¥32.75
65.29%
Cappuccino
$1.74 F CFA 998
$3.11 ¥21.06
-44.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 F CFA 476
$0.44 ¥3.00
88.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 F CFA 315
$0.29 ¥1.99
89.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 F CFA 600
$0.98 ¥6.64
7.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 F CFA 1,076
$2.05 ¥13.88
-8.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.71 F CFA 1,555
$1.84 ¥12.47
47.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 F CFA 519
$1.62 ¥10.94
-44.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 F CFA 564
$0.93 ¥6.28
5.38%
Eggs
$2.96 F CFA 1,696
$1.63 ¥11.03
81.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.37 F CFA 9,964
$13.15 ¥89.0
32.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$21.29 F CFA 12.2K
$3.26 ¥22.09
553.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.31 F CFA 7,063
$10.62 ¥71.9
15.91%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 F CFA 2,568
$1.80 ¥12.19
148.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 F CFA 781
$1.30 ¥8.77
4.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 F CFA 567
$1.46 ¥9.90
-32.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.44 F CFA 1,402
$1.20 ¥8.15
103.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.18 F CFA 1,252
$0.76 ¥5.14
186.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 F CFA 752
$0.88 ¥5.93
48.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 F CFA 494
$0.57 ¥3.86
50.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 F CFA 778
$0.54 ¥3.63
151.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.72 F CFA 986
$3.42 ¥23.17
-49.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.11 F CFA 3,504
$11.75 ¥79.5
-48.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 F CFA 714
$0.80 ¥5.40
56.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 F CFA 1,376
$1.62 ¥10.95
48.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 F CFA 110
$0.43 ¥2.94
-55.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$20.47 ¥139
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 F CFA 291
$1.36 ¥9.24
-62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 F CFA 932
$0.35 ¥2.39
362.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.50 ¥43.97
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 F CFA 882
$1.12 ¥7.59
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K F CFA 22.0M
$19.5K ¥131.8K
97.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K F CFA 21.5M
$16.9K ¥114.1K
122.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 F CFA 73.4K
$51.7 ¥350
147.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.52 F CFA 20.4K
$10.17 ¥68.8
249.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 F CFA 29.0K
$11.16 ¥75.5
352.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 F CFA 35.0K
$39.62 ¥268
53.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.74 F CFA 5,016
$14.53 ¥98.3
-39.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.57 F CFA 4,914
$6.38 ¥43.19
34.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$130 F CFA 74.7K
$407 ¥2,756
-68.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.3K F CFA 9.9M
$17.8K ¥120.7K
-2.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$45.53 ¥308
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$32.31 ¥219
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$72.6 ¥491
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$74.4 ¥504
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 F CFA 253.9K
$443 ¥2,996
-0.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$277 F CFA 158.7K
$258 ¥1,747
7.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,259 F CFA 722.3K
$910 ¥6,162
38.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$752 F CFA 431.4K
$543 ¥3,677
38.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$859 F CFA 492.8K
$4,934 ¥33.4K
-82.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$261 F CFA 149.9K
$2,398 ¥16.2K
-89.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burkina Faso
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$586 F CFA 336.1K
$1,065 ¥7,205
-44.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
4.06
-

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

Last update for Burkina Faso: July 13, 2026

Last update for China: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $225 in Burkina Faso vs $287 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $449 in Ouagadougou and $894 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $607 in Burkina Faso vs $855 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 28% higher in China.

Dining out costs 75% more in China.

Salaries are 41% higher 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 67% 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 67% 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.

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