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 $720 per month in China vs $614 in Burkina Faso, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,148 per month in China vs $1,013 in Burkina Faso, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,576 per month in China vs $1,411 in Burkina Faso, rent included.

The cost of living in China is about 17% 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 48% lower, Burkina Faso 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.93 ¥19.60
$7.72 F CFA 4,365
-62.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.72 ¥152
$26.78 F CFA 15.1K
-15.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 ¥33.95
$7.35 F CFA 4,150
-31.02%
Cappuccino
$2.94 ¥19.70
$2.04 F CFA 1,152
44.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.21
$1.14 F CFA 642
-57.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.02
$1.14 F CFA 643
-73.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.06 ¥7.10
$1.22 F CFA 687
-13.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ¥15.07
$2.73 F CFA 1,541
-17.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥11.99
$2.13 F CFA 1,205
-15.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 ¥11.35
$1.16 F CFA 658
46.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.45
$0.86 F CFA 484
11.63%
Eggs
$1.61 ¥10.79
$2.63 F CFA 1,485
-38.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.60 ¥91.1
$17.67 F CFA 9,986
-23.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.41 ¥22.84
$21.14 F CFA 11.9K
-83.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ¥74.2
$15.59 F CFA 8,811
-28.99%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.09
$4.96 F CFA 2,803
-63.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.74
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 ¥9.91
$3.44 F CFA 1,946
-56.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.72
$3.91 F CFA 2,209
-66.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.82
$1.60 F CFA 906
-55.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 ¥6.31
$1.80 F CFA 1,018
-47.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.08
$1.36 F CFA 771
-55.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.73
$1.39 F CFA 786
-59.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.67 ¥24.58
$1.41 F CFA 797
160.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.90 ¥79.7
$6.15 F CFA 3,472
93.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.56
$1.52 F CFA 858
-45.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ¥11.08
$2.61 F CFA 1,476
-36.78%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.92
$0.20 F CFA 111
45.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.61 ¥151
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.45 ¥9.72
$0.51 F CFA 286
184.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 ¥2.31
$0.91 F CFA 516
-62.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.27 ¥48.72
$8.82 F CFA 4,985
-17.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥8.26
$1.48 F CFA 835
-16.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥130.9K
$28.9K F CFA 16.3M
-32.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K ¥115.5K
$32.1K F CFA 18.2M
-46.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.5 ¥371
$185 F CFA 104.7K
-70.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.51 ¥57.0
$26.19 F CFA 14.8K
-67.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.81 ¥72.4
$55.7 F CFA 31.4K
-80.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.02 ¥268
$62.2 F CFA 35.1K
-35.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.80 ¥99.1
$9.10 F CFA 5,141
62.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ¥45.09
$7.14 F CFA 4,037
-5.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 ¥3,042
$35.36 F CFA 20.0K
1184.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.5K ¥130.8K
$6,120 F CFA 3.5M
219.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.95 ¥301
$35.56 F CFA 20.1K
26.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.81 ¥240
$54.2 F CFA 30.6K
-33.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 ¥514
$88.5 F CFA 50.0K
-13.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3 ¥518
$105 F CFA 59.2K
-26.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 ¥2,581
$351 F CFA 198.3K
9.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 ¥1,623
$235 F CFA 132.6K
3.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 ¥5,603
$1,395 F CFA 788.2K
-40.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 ¥3,177
$774 F CFA 437.2K
-38.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,619 ¥30.9K
$894 F CFA 505.0K
416.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,316 ¥15.5K
$267 F CFA 150.7K
768.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Burkina Faso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,062 ¥7,110
$613 F CFA 346.4K
73.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.47
12
-71.08%

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

Last update for China: September 5, 2026

Last update for Burkina Faso: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $295 in China vs $174 in Burkina Faso. For reference, capital cities sit at $957 in Beijing (Pekin) and $347 in Ouagadougou.

Average salary: $865 in China vs $612 in Burkina Faso. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 70% higher in China.

Dining out costs 50% more in China.

Salaries are 41% 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 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 39% 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 39% 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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