😐A single person spends $712 per month in China vs $515 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,131 per month in China vs $849 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,550 per month in China vs $1,183 in Burkina Faso, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in China is about 38% higher than in 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 – China 47% lower, Burkina Faso 61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86¥19.32
$5.38F CFA 3,087
-46.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.44¥158
$24.15F CFA 13.9K
-2.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84¥32.70
$8.00F CFA 4,592
-39.50%
Cappuccino
$3.11¥21.03
$1.74F CFA 999
78.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44¥2.99
$0.83F CFA 477
-46.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.99
$0.55F CFA 315
-47.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98¥6.63
$1.05F CFA 601
-6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥13.86
$1.88F CFA 1,077
9.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84¥12.45
$2.71F CFA 1,556
-32.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥10.92
$0.90F CFA 519
80.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93¥6.27
$0.98F CFA 565
-5.10%
Eggs
$1.63¥11.01
$2.96F CFA 1,697
-44.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.15¥88.8
$17.37F CFA 9,974
-24.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26¥22.06
$21.29F CFA 12.2K
-84.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.62¥71.8
$12.31F CFA 7,070
-13.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80¥12.17
$4.48F CFA 2,571
-59.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30¥8.76
$1.36F CFA 782
-4.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46¥9.88
$0.99F CFA 568
47.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20¥8.13
$2.44F CFA 1,403
-50.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76¥5.13
$2.18F CFA 1,253
-65.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88¥5.93
$1.31F CFA 753
-32.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57¥3.86
$0.86F CFA 495
-33.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.62
$1.36F CFA 779
-60.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42¥23.14
$1.72F CFA 987
98.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.75¥79.4
$6.11F CFA 3,508
92.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.39
$1.25F CFA 715
-36.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62¥10.94
$2.40F CFA 1,378
-32.50%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43¥2.93
$0.19F CFA 110
126.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.47¥138
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36¥9.22
$0.51F CFA 291
166.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.39
$1.62F CFA 933
-78.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.50¥43.90
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12¥7.58
$1.54F CFA 883
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥131.6K
$38.4KF CFA 22.1M
-49.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥113.9K
$37.6KF CFA 21.6M
-55.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.7¥349
$128F CFA 73.5K
-59.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.17¥68.7
$35.52F CFA 20.4K
-71.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.16¥75.4
$50.6F CFA 29.0K
-77.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.62¥268
$61.0F CFA 35.0K
-35.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.53¥98.2
$8.74F CFA 5,021
66.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38¥43.12
$8.57F CFA 4,919
-25.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407¥2,752
$130F CFA 74.8K
212.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K¥120.5K
$17.3KF CFA 9.9M
2.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.53¥308
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.31¥218
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6¥490
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4¥503
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443¥2,992
$443F CFA 254.2K
0.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$258¥1,745
$277F CFA 158.9K
-6.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910¥6,152
$1,259F CFA 723.0K
-27.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543¥3,672
$752F CFA 431.8K
-27.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,934¥33.3K
$859F CFA 493.3K
474.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,398¥16.2K
$261F CFA 150.0K
817.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,065¥7,194
$586F CFA 336.4K
81.69%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Burkina Faso: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $287 in China vs $225 in Burkina Faso. For reference, capital cities sit at $894 in Beijing (Pekin) and $449 in Ouagadougou.
💰Average salary: $855 in China vs $607 in Burkina Faso. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 28% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 75% more in China.
⭐Salaries are 41% 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 67% 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 67% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Burkina Faso or in 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 to 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.