😐A single person spends $712 per month in China vs $515 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,132 per month in China vs $835 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,551 per month in China vs $1,154 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
😐China costs about 38% more than Burkina Faso on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both China and Burkina Faso are more affordable than the global median – China47% lower, Burkina Faso62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81¥18.98
$5.16F CFA 2,907
-45.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.30¥158
$23.46F CFA 13.2K
-0.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01¥33.87
$8.08F CFA 4,559
-38.00%
Cappuccino
$3.01¥20.38
$1.74F CFA 979
72.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45¥3.03
$0.80F CFA 449
-43.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.54F CFA 307
-46.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95¥6.41
$1.07F CFA 604
-11.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥13.87
$1.82F CFA 1,024
12.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76¥11.87
$2.77F CFA 1,562
-36.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥10.98
$0.92F CFA 517
76.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95¥6.45
$1.02F CFA 573
-6.86%
Eggs
$1.56¥10.55
$3.07F CFA 1,729
-49.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.06¥88.3
$17.50F CFA 9,868
-25.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28¥22.17
$20.91F CFA 11.8K
-84.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.65¥72.0
$12.64F CFA 7,126
-15.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78¥12.03
$4.37F CFA 2,462
-59.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24¥8.42
$1.40F CFA 789
-11.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50¥10.12
$0.98F CFA 550
53.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.15¥7.79
$2.40F CFA 1,352
-52.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75¥5.07
$2.28F CFA 1,284
-67.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86¥5.81
$1.29F CFA 730
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62¥4.17
$0.85F CFA 481
-27.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.81
$1.35F CFA 761
-58.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51¥23.76
$1.72F CFA 970
104.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.66¥78.9
$6.08F CFA 3,431
91.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.40
$1.29F CFA 727
-37.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66¥11.25
$2.40F CFA 1,353
-30.83%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43¥2.93
$0.18F CFA 102
138.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.86¥141
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37¥9.26
$0.51F CFA 288
168.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.38
$1.54F CFA 869
-77.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.63¥44.82
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.69
$1.48F CFA 835
-22.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥129.7K
$37.2KF CFA 21.0M
-48.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K¥113.4K
$36.4KF CFA 20.5M
-53.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.2¥346
$124F CFA 69.8K
-58.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.16¥68.7
$35.62F CFA 20.1K
-71.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.51¥77.9
$50.7F CFA 28.6K
-77.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.53¥274
$61.5F CFA 34.7K
-34.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.05¥102
$8.66F CFA 4,886
73.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.10¥41.26
$8.90F CFA 5,019
-31.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$402¥2,719
$135F CFA 76.1K
198.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.7K¥119.5K
$17.7KF CFA 10.0M
-0.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57¥308
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.26¥225
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6¥491
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5¥503
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429¥2,903
$445F CFA 250.8K
-3.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$257¥1,739
$281F CFA 158.4K
-8.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$895¥6,055
$1,288F CFA 726.4K
-30.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$541¥3,660
$778F CFA 438.9K
-30.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,015¥33.9K
$888F CFA 500.8K
464.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,469¥16.7K
$271F CFA 152.7K
811.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,055¥7,132
$596F CFA 336.2K
76.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: June 1, 2026
Last update for Burkina Faso: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $286 in China vs $217 in Burkina Faso. For reference, capital cities sit at $916 in Beijing (Pekin) and $433 in Ouagadougou.
💰Average salary: $861 in China vs $622 in Burkina Faso. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 32% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 75% more in China.
⭐Salaries are 38% higher 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 Burkina Faso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burkina Faso more expensive than China?
Burkina Faso is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 68% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in China, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but China consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Burkina Faso, contributing to the overall 68% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Burkina Faso or China?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Burkina Faso, but in China it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Burkina Faso or China?
Burkina Faso 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.