Cost of Living Comparison Between Changsha and Beijing (Pekin) Cost of Living Comparison Between Changsha and Beijing (Pekin)

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $770 per month in Changsha vs $1,089 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,221 per month in Changsha vs $1,789 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,673 per month in Changsha vs $2,489 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

Changsha is about 29% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin), driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Changsha and Beijing (Pekin) are more affordable than the global median – Changsha 43% lower, Beijing (Pekin) 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 ¥19.63

$4.30 ¥29.44

-33.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.69 ¥142

$27.98 ¥192

-26.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 ¥33.62

$5.29 ¥36.24

-7.18%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ¥20.26

$3.21 ¥21.98

-7.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ¥3.16

$0.42 ¥2.86

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ¥1.71

$0.30 ¥2.08

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 ¥7.45

$1.12 ¥7.68

-2.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ¥12.74

$2.12 ¥14.54

-12.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ¥13.25

$1.71 ¥11.72

12.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.24 ¥15.35

$1.59 ¥10.90

40.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.25

$1.12 ¥7.66

-18.75%

Eggs

$1.61 ¥11.06

$1.73 ¥11.83

-6.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.92 ¥109

$15.79 ¥108

0.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 ¥21.94

$3.33 ¥22.81

-3.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 ¥60.9

$9.66 ¥66.2

-7.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 ¥12.61

$2.06 ¥14.13

-10.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.16

$1.60 ¥10.98

-16.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.19

$1.78 ¥12.20

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.43

$1.30 ¥8.88

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 ¥6.07

$0.79 ¥5.44

12.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.98

$0.92 ¥6.29

58.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 ¥3.26

$0.73 ¥4.99

-34.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 ¥2.73

$0.56 ¥3.84

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.83 ¥19.38

$3.58 ¥24.55

-20.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 ¥84.8

$10.46 ¥71.7

18.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥6.09

$0.81 ¥5.55

9.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ¥9.83

$1.80 ¥12.36

-20.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ¥2.50

$0.54 ¥3.72

-31.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.21 ¥97.3

$31.11 ¥213

-54.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ¥8.49

$1.82 ¥12.47

-31.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 ¥1.78

$0.33 ¥2.26

-21.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.13 ¥55.7

$10.31 ¥70.6

-21.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥8.10

$1.14 ¥7.79

3.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.7K ¥142.1K

$18.2K ¥124.6K

14.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.9K ¥149.9K

$15.6K ¥107.0K

40.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$42.83 ¥293

$53.0 ¥363

-19.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.61 ¥86.4

$8.75 ¥59.9

44.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.52 ¥99.5

$12.49 ¥85.5

16.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 ¥391

$49.95 ¥342

14.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.08 ¥158

$18.40 ¥126

25.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 ¥40.75

$8.34 ¥57.1

-28.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$313 ¥2,144

$674 ¥4,619

-53.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,239 ¥49.6K

$24.3K ¥166.2K

-70.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.7 ¥580

$62.0 ¥425

36.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.31 ¥214

$34.39 ¥236

-8.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 ¥563

$78.9 ¥540

4.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.3 ¥475

$99.0 ¥678

-29.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 ¥1,424

$886 ¥6,067

-76.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 ¥1,170

$458 ¥3,137

-62.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$506 ¥3,463

$1,924 ¥13.2K

-73.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 ¥2,504

$1,066 ¥7,299

-65.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,503 ¥17.1K

$12.4K ¥85.1K

-79.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,325 ¥9,073

$6,333 ¥43.4K

-79.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,094 ¥7,496

$1,618 ¥11.1K

-32.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.89

3.64

6.87%

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

Last update for Changsha: April 25, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $208 in Changsha versus $886 in Beijing (Pekin). Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 48% higher in Beijing (Pekin), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Changsha versus $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin). Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Changsha vs $213 in Beijing (Pekin) – so Beijing (Pekin) wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Changsha vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,154 per month in Changsha and $1,633 in Beijing (Pekin). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Changsha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Changsha and $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin). That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $770 in Changsha and $1,089 in Beijing (Pekin). The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Changsha, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,089. In Changsha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Changsha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Changsha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beijing (Pekin) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.