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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $711 per month in China vs $712 in Barbados, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,131 per month in China vs $1,237 in Barbados, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,550 per month in China vs $1,761 in Barbados, rent included.

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
$2.75 ¥18.83
$20.15 BBD 40.30
-86.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.03 ¥165
$98.1 BBD 196
-75.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥33.95
$10.19 BBD 20.38
-51.32%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥21.37
$4.87 BBD 9.75
-35.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.26
$1.80 BBD 3.59
-73.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.84
$1.33 BBD 2.66
-79.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ¥6.73
$2.57 BBD 5.13
-61.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ¥14.69
$3.95 BBD 7.89
-45.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Barbados
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ¥12.53
$3.55 BBD 7.10
-48.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥11.54
$2.64 BBD 5.28
-36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.21
$3.96 BBD 7.92
-77.02%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.66
$5.47 BBD 10.95
-71.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.97 ¥88.9
$7.85 BBD 15.71
65.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.25 ¥22.23
$10.85 BBD 21.70
-70.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.51 ¥72.0
$10.36 BBD 20.72
1.45%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.41
$4.17 BBD 8.33
-56.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.90
$3.17 BBD 6.34
-58.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.26
$5.06 BBD 10.11
-70.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.87
$3.95 BBD 7.90
-70.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.20
$4.18 BBD 8.36
-81.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 ¥6.07
$3.16 BBD 6.32
-71.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ¥3.97
$2.64 BBD 5.28
-78.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.95
$2.22 BBD 4.43
-73.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50 ¥23.95
$7.89 BBD 15.78
-55.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.55 ¥79.1
$15.92 BBD 31.83
-27.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.31
$1.75 BBD 3.50
-55.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.03
$2.96 BBD 5.91
-45.61%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Barbados
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.01
$1.77 BBD 3.53
-75.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.15 ¥145
$24.91 BBD 49.82
-15.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.35
$15.10 BBD 30.20
-90.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ¥2.44
$2.45 BBD 4.89
-85.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ¥45.28
$40.30 BBD 80.6
-83.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥7.74
$2.07 BBD 4.14
-45.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ¥135.2K
$40.5K BBD 81.0K
-51.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K ¥117.0K
$37.5K BBD 74.9K
-54.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Barbados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.9 ¥349
$125 BBD 250
-59.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 ¥68.7
$49.94 BBD 99.9
-79.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.33 ¥77.6
$61.2 BBD 122
-81.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Barbados
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.13 ¥275
$73.4 BBD 147
-45.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.97 ¥103
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 ¥41.74
$10.08 BBD 20.17
-39.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Barbados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$418 ¥2,860
$262 BBD 525
59.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.3K ¥118.2K
$7,288 BBD 14.6K
136.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Barbados
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.40 ¥318
$56.5 BBD 113
-17.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.92 ¥226
$38.76 BBD 77.5
-15.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.1 ¥487
$102 BBD 205
-30.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥499
$92.7 BBD 185
-21.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Barbados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$438 ¥3,003
$664 BBD 1,328
-33.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 ¥1,775
$541 BBD 1,082
-52.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$926 ¥6,341
$1,744 BBD 3,487
-46.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 ¥3,754
$1,219 BBD 2,438
-55.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,047 ¥34.6K
$3,479 BBD 6,958
45.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,666 ¥18.3K
$3,450 BBD 6,901
-22.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Barbados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,074 ¥7,357
$1,149 BBD 2,298
-6.51%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Barbados: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $286 in China vs $198 in Barbados. For reference, capital cities sit at $886 in Beijing (Pekin) and $583 in Bridgetown.

Average salary: $834 in China vs $1,303 in Barbados. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 44% higher in China.

Dining out costs 76% more in Barbados.

Public transport is 350% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 56% higher in Barbados, giving Barbados 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
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 14% 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 14% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $2,000 go in Barbados vs 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 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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