Cost of Living Comparison Between Chad and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Chad and China

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $544 per month in Chad vs $711 in China, rent included.

A couple spends around $720 per month in Chad vs $1,131 in China, rent included.

A family of three spends $895 per month in Chad vs $1,551 in China, rent included.

Chad is roughly 23% cheaper than China on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Chad and China are more affordable than the global median – Chad 60% lower, China 47% lower.

Chad has a wider regional cost range ($0$1,089) than China ($523$1,194), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Chad.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chad
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.00 FCFA 5,012
$2.86 ¥19.51
214.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$23.89 ¥163
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.77 ¥32.61
-
Cappuccino
$0.86 FCFA 476
$3.08 ¥21.02
-72.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 FCFA 496
$0.44 ¥2.99
102.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 FCFA 501
$0.27 ¥1.84
233.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 FCFA 757
$0.93 ¥6.36
46.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 FCFA 996
$2.04 ¥13.96
-12.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chad
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.66 FCFA 2,038
$1.78 ¥12.16
105.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.36 FCFA 203
$1.60 ¥10.94
-77.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.58 FCFA 1,994
$0.98 ¥6.70
265.31%
Eggs
$2.09 FCFA 1,162
$1.55 ¥10.60
34.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.47 FCFA 1,933
$13.22 ¥90.3
-73.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.20 FCFA 4,008
$3.39 ¥23.13
112.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.62 FCFA 2,016
$10.52 ¥71.9
-65.59%
Apples (1kg)
$4.83 FCFA 2,687
$1.84 ¥12.59
162.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 FCFA 1,262
$1.30 ¥8.89
74.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 FCFA 1,500
$1.47 ¥10.03
82.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 FCFA 1,427
$1.15 ¥7.83
122.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 FCFA 938
$0.72 ¥4.94
134.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 FCFA 945
$0.94 ¥6.40
80.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.54 FCFA 302
$0.61 ¥4.16
-11.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 FCFA 1,126
$0.53 ¥3.61
281.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.02 FCFA 569
$3.54 ¥24.15
-71.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.24 FCFA 4,588
$11.89 ¥81.2
-30.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 FCFA 776
$0.79 ¥5.39
75.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 FCFA 966
$1.69 ¥11.51
2.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chad
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 FCFA 252
$0.44 ¥2.98
2.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.6 FCFA 48.8K
$20.98 ¥143
317.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 FCFA 252
$1.38 ¥9.39
-67.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 FCFA 233
$0.35 ¥2.40
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.37 FCFA 2,993
$6.75 ¥46.13
-20.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 FCFA 633
$1.16 ¥7.93
-1.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K FCFA 6.7M
$19.7K ¥134.8K
-38.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.4K FCFA 6.3M
$16.9K ¥115.8K
-32.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chad
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$50.3 ¥344
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92 FCFA 15.0K
$10.04 ¥68.5
168.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$440 FCFA 245.2K
$11.39 ¥77.8
3765.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chad
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$40.16 ¥274
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.68 ¥100
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.21 ¥42.39
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chad
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$402 ¥2,746
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$17.4K ¥119.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chad
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.56 FCFA 14.8K
$46.39 ¥317
-42.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69 FCFA 19.9K
$32.60 ¥223
9.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.82 FCFA 24.4K
$71.3 ¥487
-38.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.3 FCFA 49.2K
$74.8 ¥511
18.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chad
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,481 FCFA 824.8K
$429 ¥2,931
245.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$86.8 FCFA 48.3K
$261 ¥1,783
-66.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$269 FCFA 149.6K
$915 ¥6,253
-70.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 FCFA 100.2K
$545 ¥3,725
-67.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$197 FCFA 109.5K
$5,127 ¥35.0K
-96.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$197 FCFA 109.5K
$2,614 ¥17.9K
-92.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chad
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$360 FCFA 200.3K
$1,061 ¥7,244
-66.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
4.06
-13.79%

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

Last update for Chad: April 13, 2026

Last update for China: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $744 in Chad vs $287 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,487 in N'Djamena and $914 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $363 in Chad vs $833 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 159% higher in Chad.

Public transport is 139% more expensive in Chad.

Salaries are 129% higher in China, giving China stronger purchasing power.

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
Chad vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chad more expensive than China?
Chad is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 58% 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 Chad, contributing to the overall 58% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Chad or China?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Chad, but in China it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Chad or China?
Chad 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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