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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $531 per month in Chad vs $712 in China, rent included.

A couple spends around $712 per month in Chad vs $1,132 in China, rent included.

A family of three spends $893 per month in Chad vs $1,551 in China, rent included.

Chad is roughly 25% 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.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chad
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.04 FCFA 5,143
$2.81 ¥18.99
221.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$23.30 ¥158
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.01 ¥33.89
-
Cappuccino
$0.90 FCFA 515
$3.01 ¥20.39
-70.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 FCFA 482
$0.45 ¥3.03
88.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 FCFA 508
$0.29 ¥1.97
206.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.31 FCFA 744
$0.95 ¥6.42
37.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 FCFA 988
$2.05 ¥13.88
-15.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chad
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.81 FCFA 2,170
$1.76 ¥11.88
116.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.34 FCFA 192
$1.62 ¥10.98
-79.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.61 FCFA 2,055
$0.95 ¥6.45
280.00%
Eggs
$2.15 FCFA 1,225
$1.56 ¥10.56
37.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.49 FCFA 1,988
$13.06 ¥88.3
-73.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.88 FCFA 3,914
$3.28 ¥22.18
109.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.69 FCFA 2,102
$10.65 ¥72.0
-65.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.96 FCFA 2,820
$1.78 ¥12.04
178.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 FCFA 1,294
$1.24 ¥8.42
83.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 FCFA 1,494
$1.50 ¥10.12
75.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 FCFA 1,413
$1.15 ¥7.79
115.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 FCFA 958
$0.75 ¥5.07
124.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 FCFA 929
$0.86 ¥5.81
89.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 FCFA 292
$0.62 ¥4.17
-17.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 FCFA 1,199
$0.56 ¥3.81
276.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.03 FCFA 584
$3.51 ¥23.77
-70.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.11 FCFA 4,615
$11.66 ¥78.9
-30.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 FCFA 769
$0.80 ¥5.40
68.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 FCFA 991
$1.66 ¥11.25
4.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Chad
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 FCFA 239
$0.43 ¥2.93
-2.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.9 FCFA 51.2K
$20.86 ¥141
331.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 FCFA 262
$1.37 ¥9.26
-66.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 FCFA 236
$0.35 ¥2.38
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.19 FCFA 2,954
$6.63 ¥44.85
-21.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 FCFA 646
$1.14 ¥7.70
-0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.2K FCFA 6.9M
$19.2K ¥129.8K
-36.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.5K FCFA 6.6M
$16.8K ¥113.4K
-31.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chad
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$51.2 ¥346
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.80 FCFA 15.2K
$10.16 ¥68.7
163.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$434 FCFA 247.2K
$11.51 ¥77.9
3674.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chad
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$40.53 ¥274
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.05 ¥102
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.10 ¥41.28
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chad
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$402 ¥2,720
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$17.7K ¥119.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chad
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.73 FCFA 15.2K
$45.57 ¥308
-41.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.59 FCFA 19.7K
$33.26 ¥225
4.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.64 FCFA 25.4K
$72.6 ¥491
-38.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3 FCFA 49.6K
$74.5 ¥504
17.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chad
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,508 FCFA 857.7K
$429 ¥2,905
251.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$87.4 FCFA 49.7K
$257 ¥1,740
-66.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$264 FCFA 150.4K
$895 ¥6,058
-70.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 FCFA 102.3K
$541 ¥3,662
-66.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$187 FCFA 106.5K
$5,015 ¥33.9K
-96.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$189 FCFA 107.5K
$2,469 ¥16.7K
-92.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chad
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$353 FCFA 200.9K
$1,055 ¥7,135
-66.51%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for China: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $751 in Chad vs $286 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,501 in N'Djamena and $916 in Beijing (Pekin).

Average salary: $351 in Chad vs $861 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 163% higher in Chad.

Public transport is 144% more expensive in Chad.

Salaries are 145% 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 63% 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 63% 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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