Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Benin Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Benin

Name: Benin
Address: BJ

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $720 per month in China vs $839 in Benin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,148 per month in China vs $1,326 in Benin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in China vs $1,813 in Benin, rent included.

The cost of living in China is roughly 14% lower than in Benin on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both China and Benin are more affordable than the global median – China 48% lower, Benin 39% lower.

The regional cost range is wider in China ($468–$1,236) than in Benin ($745–$933), so city choice matters more there.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.93 ¥19.60

$5.22 F CFA 2,948

-43.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.72 ¥152

$36.90 F CFA 20.9K

-38.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ¥33.95

$9.83 F CFA 5,553

-48.42%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ¥19.70

$5.66 F CFA 3,196

-48.06%

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

$0.48 ¥3.21

$1.22 F CFA 689

-60.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.02

$1.33 F CFA 749

-77.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ¥7.10

$0.91 F CFA 513

16.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ¥15.07

$4.04 F CFA 2,281

-44.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ¥11.99

$2.43 F CFA 1,371

-26.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 ¥11.35

$0.91 F CFA 514

86.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ¥6.45

$1.92 F CFA 1,084

-50.00%

Eggs

$1.61 ¥10.79

$2.18 F CFA 1,230

-26.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.60 ¥91.1

$7.46 F CFA 4,216

82.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 ¥22.84

$4.59 F CFA 2,596

-25.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ¥74.2

$5.54 F CFA 3,132

99.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.09

$3.04 F CFA 1,715

-40.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 ¥8.74

$1.26 F CFA 710

3.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.91

$1.21 F CFA 686

22.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 ¥8.72

$2.60 F CFA 1,468

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.82

$1.38 F CFA 781

-47.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.31

$1.21 F CFA 686

-22.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ¥4.08

$0.51 F CFA 288

19.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.73

$0.89 F CFA 502

-37.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 ¥24.58

$1.97 F CFA 1,111

86.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 ¥79.7

$4.47 F CFA 2,525

166.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.56

$1.26 F CFA 709

-34.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ¥11.08

$1.79 F CFA 1,009

-7.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.92

$1.31 F CFA 742

-77.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.61 ¥151

$7.57 F CFA 4,279

198.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ¥9.72

$1.55 F CFA 873

-6.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ¥2.31

$1.62 F CFA 913

-79.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ¥48.72

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥8.26

$1.26 F CFA 711

-2.38%

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

$19.5K ¥130.9K

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

$17.2K ¥115.5K

$25.3K F CFA 14.3M

-31.79%

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

$55.5 ¥371

$153 F CFA 86.2K

-63.66%

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

$8.51 ¥57.0

$32.84 F CFA 18.6K

-74.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.81 ¥72.4

$57.0 F CFA 32.2K

-81.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.02 ¥268

$40.20 F CFA 22.7K

-0.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.80 ¥99.1

$4.50 F CFA 2,541

228.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ¥45.09

$8.64 F CFA 4,883

-22.11%

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

$454 ¥3,042

$136 F CFA 76.8K

234.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K ¥130.8K

$5,815 F CFA 3.3M

235.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.95 ¥301

$22.28 F CFA 12.6K

101.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.81 ¥240

$8.92 F CFA 5,041

301.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ¥514

$30.56 F CFA 17.3K

151.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 ¥518

$49.48 F CFA 28.0K

56.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ¥2,581

$120 F CFA 67.7K

221.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ¥1,623

$122 F CFA 68.8K

98.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 ¥5,603

$424 F CFA 239.5K

97.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 ¥3,177

$393 F CFA 222.2K

20.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,619 ¥30.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,316 ¥15.5K

$2,606 F CFA 1.5M

-11.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 ¥7,110

$294 F CFA 166.2K

260.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.47

-13.25%

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

Last update for China: September 5, 2026

Last update for Benin: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average salary: $865 in China vs $176 in Benin. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 106% higher in China.

Dining out costs 52% more in Benin.

Public transport is 325% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 391% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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 Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Benin is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 2% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in China, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but China consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Benin, contributing to the overall 2% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Benin, but in China it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Benin 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.