Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Barbados Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Barbados

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $712 per month in China vs $703 in Barbados, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,131 per month in China vs $1,229 in Barbados, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,549 per month in China vs $1,754 in Barbados, rent included.

The cost of living in China is about 1% higher than in Barbados on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Barbados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77 ¥18.72
$19.94 BBD 39.87
-86.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.05 ¥162
$99.2 BBD 198
-75.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 ¥31.93
$10.17 BBD 20.34
-53.49%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ¥20.78
$4.96 BBD 9.92
-37.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.00
$1.83 BBD 3.65
-75.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.98
$1.40 BBD 2.80
-79.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ¥6.80
$2.53 BBD 5.07
-60.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 ¥14.03
$4.04 BBD 8.07
-48.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Barbados
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ¥12.39
$3.47 BBD 6.94
-47.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥10.94
$2.66 BBD 5.32
-39.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ¥6.58
$4.10 BBD 8.20
-76.34%
Eggs
$1.61 ¥10.90
$5.67 BBD 11.33
-71.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 ¥90.1
$7.97 BBD 15.93
67.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.37 ¥22.75
$11.21 BBD 22.43
-69.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 ¥72.2
$10.32 BBD 20.65
3.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.26
$4.13 BBD 8.26
-56.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.44
$3.23 BBD 6.45
-61.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 ¥9.88
$5.00 BBD 10.00
-70.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.73
$4.09 BBD 8.18
-71.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.92
$4.08 BBD 8.17
-82.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 ¥5.99
$3.22 BBD 6.43
-72.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ¥4.05
$2.58 BBD 5.16
-76.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.59
$2.28 BBD 4.56
-76.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39 ¥22.93
$8.11 BBD 16.21
-58.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.73 ¥79.3
$15.72 BBD 31.44
-25.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ¥5.23
$1.76 BBD 3.51
-56.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥10.98
$2.83 BBD 5.66
-42.40%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Barbados
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 ¥2.77
$1.76 BBD 3.53
-76.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.24 ¥143
$25.07 BBD 50.1
-15.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ¥9.13
$14.72 BBD 29.43
-90.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ¥2.40
$2.43 BBD 4.86
-85.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.70 ¥45.26
$40.59 BBD 81.2
-83.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ¥7.98
$1.99 BBD 3.98
-40.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ¥133.4K
$40.1K BBD 80.2K
-50.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K ¥111.7K
$37.2K BBD 74.3K
-55.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Barbados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.7 ¥349
$126 BBD 253
-59.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.09 ¥68.2
$49.14 BBD 98.3
-79.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.38 ¥76.9
$59.3 BBD 119
-80.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Barbados
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.24 ¥265
$73.3 BBD 147
-46.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.84 ¥100
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 ¥42.56
$10.10 BBD 20.21
-37.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Barbados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$414 ¥2,795
$269 BBD 537
53.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K ¥117.6K
$7,536 BBD 15.1K
131.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Barbados
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.77 ¥316
$57.4 BBD 115
-18.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.08 ¥223
$37.97 BBD 75.9
-12.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.9 ¥479
$103 BBD 205
-30.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5 ¥503
$90.4 BBD 181
-17.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Barbados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$440 ¥2,972
$679 BBD 1,358
-35.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$253 ¥1,707
$551 BBD 1,103
-54.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$911 ¥6,153
$1,729 BBD 3,458
-47.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$531 ¥3,584
$1,209 BBD 2,418
-56.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,778 ¥32.3K
$3,544 BBD 7,088
34.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,403 ¥16.2K
$3,470 BBD 6,940
-30.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Barbados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,058 ¥7,144
$1,274 BBD 2,547
-16.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
5.62
-27.76%

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

Last update for China: July 28, 2026

Last update for Barbados: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $287 in China vs $197 in Barbados. For reference, capital cities sit at $909 in Beijing (Pekin) and $599 in Bridgetown.

Average salary: $857 in China vs $1,464 in Barbados. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 46% higher in China.

Dining out costs 76% more in Barbados.

Public transport is 350% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 71% higher in Barbados, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Barbados.

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
China vs Barbados: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Barbados and China compare in cost of living?
China is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 13% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Barbados and China?
Housing costs more in Barbados, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Barbados consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Barbados or China?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in China, contributing to the overall 13% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $2,000 go in Barbados compared to China?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in China, but in Barbados it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Barbados and in 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.

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