For one person, living is cheaper in China: $793 a month against $1,074 in Chad, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. The total is higher in Chad despite lower rent and utilities.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chad and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,074 per month in Chad vs $793 in China, rent included.
Chad $1,074
China $793
A couple spends around $1,430 per month in Chad vs $1,261 in China, rent included.
Chad $1,430
China $1,261
A family of three spends $1,787 per month in Chad vs $1,730 in China, rent included.
Chad $1,787
China $1,730
🌍
The cost of living in Chad is about 35% higher than in China on average.
📊
Both Chad and China are more affordable than the global median – Chad 20% lower, China 41% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Chad
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.73FCFA 5,089
$2.96¥19.76
194.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$22.74¥152
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.34¥35.70
-
Cappuccino
$0.81FCFA 472
$3.04¥20.35
-73.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89FCFA 518
$0.48¥3.22
85.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86FCFA 504
$0.28¥1.85
207.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32FCFA 767
$1.03¥6.92
28.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75FCFA 1,019
$2.27¥15.16
-22.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chad
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.69FCFA 2,152
$1.80¥12.02
105.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.35FCFA 206
$1.69¥11.28
-79.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38FCFA 1,971
$1.00¥6.69
238.00%
Eggs
$2.01FCFA 1,171
$1.56¥10.42
28.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.32FCFA 1,937
$13.44¥89.8
-75.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64FCFA 3,870
$3.48¥23.28
90.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.51FCFA 2,046
$11.49¥76.8
-69.45%
Apples(1kg)
$4.76FCFA 2,775
$1.79¥12.00
165.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08FCFA 1,214
$1.26¥8.41
65.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49FCFA 1,455
$1.48¥9.92
68.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41FCFA 1,403
$1.31¥8.76
83.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62FCFA 947
$0.72¥4.84
125.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57FCFA 915
$0.93¥6.24
68.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52FCFA 304
$0.61¥4.11
-14.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15FCFA 1,254
$0.58¥3.89
270.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.03FCFA 599
$3.84¥25.65
-73.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81FCFA 4,554
$11.87¥79.4
-34.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13FCFA 657
$0.86¥5.72
31.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72FCFA 1,001
$1.69¥11.33
1.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Chad
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42FCFA 245
$0.31¥2.07
35.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.1FCFA 49.6K
$22.36¥150
280.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45FCFA 262
$1.47¥9.82
-69.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41FCFA 240
$0.38¥2.53
7.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.06FCFA 2,950
$7.03¥47.04
-28.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30FCFA 758
$1.24¥8.32
4.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.8KFCFA 6.9M
$19.2K¥128.5K
-38.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.0KFCFA 6.4M
$17.3K¥115.6K
-36.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chad
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.11FCFA 24.6K
$54.3¥363
-22.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.14FCFA 14.7K
$8.34¥55.7
201.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$418FCFA 243.5K
$10.77¥72.0
3776.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chad
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$40.39¥270
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.77¥98.8
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.89¥46.08
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chad
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$457¥3,057
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$20.1K¥134.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chad
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.53FCFA 14.9K
$45.10¥302
-43.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.59FCFA 19.6K
$35.65¥238
-5.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.68FCFA 24.9K
$77.9¥521
-45.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.7FCFA 49.4K
$78.0¥522
8.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chad
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,722FCFA 1.0M
$391¥2,615
340.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$84.6FCFA 49.3K
$232¥1,549
-63.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254FCFA 148.1K
$816¥5,457
-68.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168FCFA 98.1K
$459¥3,070
-63.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$186FCFA 108.2K
$4,585¥30.7K
-95.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$181FCFA 105.5K
$2,309¥15.4K
-92.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chad
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$343FCFA 200.2K
$1,084¥7,247
-68.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
3.46
1.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chad: October 11, 2026
Last update for China: October 12, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chad
$485 45.2%
China
$73 9.3% ↓ 84.9%$411
🛒Groceries & Markets
Chad
$235 21.8%
China
$211 26.6% ↓ 10%$23
🍽Eating Out
Chad
$97 * 9%
China
$89 11.2% ↓ 7.9%$7.7
🚌Getting Around
Chad
$89 8.3%
China
$27 3.4% ↓ 69.8%$62
🏠Accommodation & Living
Chad
$85 7.9%
China
$232 29.2% ↑ 174%$147
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Chad
$84 7.8%
China
$107 13.4% ↑ 26.9%$23
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Chad
- * 0%
China
$54 6.8%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chad
$510 28.5%
China
$82 4.7% ↓ 84%$428
🛒Groceries & Markets
Chad
$538 30.1%
China
$486 28.1% ↓ 9.7%$52
🍽Eating Out
Chad
$205 * 11.5%
China
$289 16.7% ↑ 41.1%$84
🚌Getting Around
Chad
$179 10%
China
$55 3.2% ↓ 69.6%$125
🏠Accommodation & Living
Chad
$168 9.4%
China
$459 26.6% ↑ 173%$291
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Chad
$187 10.4%
China
$237 13.7% ↑ 26.9%$50
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Chad
- * 0%
China
$123 7.1%
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $858 in Chad vs $298 in China. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,716 in N'Djamena and $940 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰Average salary: $347 in Chad vs $871 in China. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 188% higher in Chad.
⭐Public transport is 153% more expensive in Chad.
⭐Salaries are 151% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.
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
Chad vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chad more expensive than China?
China is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 35% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Chad: a central one-bedroom averages $858 versus $298 in China.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Chad or in China?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in China, but in Chad it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Chad or to China?
China 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.