Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Burkina Faso Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Burkina Faso

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$5.38 F CFA 3,087
-46.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.44 ¥158
$24.15 F CFA 13.9K
-2.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 ¥32.70
$8.00 F CFA 4,592
-39.50%
Cappuccino
$3.11 ¥21.03
$1.74 F CFA 999
78.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.99
$0.83 F CFA 477
-46.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.99
$0.55 F CFA 315
-47.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ¥6.63
$1.05 F CFA 601
-6.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ¥13.86
$1.88 F CFA 1,077
9.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 ¥12.45
$2.71 F CFA 1,556
-32.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥10.92
$0.90 F CFA 519
80.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.27
$0.98 F CFA 565
-5.10%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.01
$2.96 F CFA 1,697
-44.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.15 ¥88.8
$17.37 F CFA 9,974
-24.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.26 ¥22.06
$21.29 F CFA 12.2K
-84.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.62 ¥71.8
$12.31 F CFA 7,070
-13.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.17
$4.48 F CFA 2,571
-59.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.76
$1.36 F CFA 782
-4.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 ¥9.88
$0.99 F CFA 568
47.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 ¥8.13
$2.44 F CFA 1,403
-50.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.13
$2.18 F CFA 1,253
-65.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 ¥5.93
$1.31 F CFA 753
-32.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 ¥3.86
$0.86 F CFA 495
-33.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.62
$1.36 F CFA 779
-60.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42 ¥23.14
$1.72 F CFA 987
98.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.75 ¥79.4
$6.11 F CFA 3,508
92.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥5.39
$1.25 F CFA 715
-36.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ¥10.94
$2.40 F CFA 1,378
-32.50%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.93
$0.19 F CFA 110
126.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.47 ¥138
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.22
$0.51 F CFA 291
166.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.39
$1.62 F CFA 933
-78.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 ¥43.90
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥7.58
$1.54 F CFA 883
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥131.6K
$38.4K F CFA 22.1M
-49.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥113.9K
$37.6K F 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
$128 F CFA 73.5K
-59.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.17 ¥68.7
$35.52 F CFA 20.4K
-71.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.16 ¥75.4
$50.6 F CFA 29.0K
-77.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.62 ¥268
$61.0 F CFA 35.0K
-35.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.53 ¥98.2
$8.74 F CFA 5,021
66.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38 ¥43.12
$8.57 F CFA 4,919
-25.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$407 ¥2,752
$130 F CFA 74.8K
212.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K ¥120.5K
$17.3K F 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
$443 F CFA 254.2K
0.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 ¥1,745
$277 F CFA 158.9K
-6.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ¥6,152
$1,259 F CFA 723.0K
-27.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,672
$752 F CFA 431.8K
-27.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,934 ¥33.3K
$859 F CFA 493.3K
474.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,398 ¥16.2K
$261 F CFA 150.0K
817.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,065 ¥7,194
$586 F 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.

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