😐A single person spends $712 per month in China vs $530 in Cape Verde, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,132 per month in China vs $879 in Cape Verde, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,551 per month in China vs $1,228 in Cape Verde, rent included.
😐China costs about 34% more than Cape Verde on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Both China and Cape Verde are more affordable than the global median – China47% lower, Cape Verde60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Cape Verde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81¥18.98
$5.21CVE 493
-46.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.30¥158
$51.0CVE 4,827
-54.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01¥33.87
$8.54CVE 809
-41.33%
Cappuccino
$3.01¥20.38
$1.97CVE 186
52.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45¥3.03
$1.96CVE 185
-77.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.97
$1.18CVE 112
-75.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95¥6.41
$3.24CVE 307
-70.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥13.87
$2.23CVE 211
-8.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Cape Verde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76¥11.87
$1.43CVE 135
23.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥10.98
$1.74CVE 165
-6.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95¥6.45
$1.80CVE 171
-47.22%
Eggs
$1.56¥10.55
$2.36CVE 223
-33.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.06¥88.3
$12.78CVE 1,210
2.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28¥22.17
$8.54CVE 808
-61.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.65¥72.0
$19.94CVE 1,888
-46.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78¥12.03
$2.73CVE 258
-34.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24¥8.42
$2.32CVE 220
-46.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50¥10.12
$2.69CVE 255
-44.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.15¥7.79
$3.56CVE 337
-67.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75¥5.07
$1.42CVE 135
-47.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86¥5.81
$1.75CVE 166
-50.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62¥4.17
$1.40CVE 132
-55.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.81
$1.07CVE 101
-47.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51¥23.76
$4.99CVE 473
-29.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.66¥78.9
$8.60CVE 814
35.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.40
$2.01CVE 191
-60.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66¥11.25
$1.94CVE 184
-14.43%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Cape Verde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43¥2.93
$0.91CVE 86.5
-52.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.86¥141
$29.92CVE 2,833
-30.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37¥9.26
$1.81CVE 172
-24.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.38
$2.13CVE 201
-83.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.63¥44.82
$10.57CVE 1,001
-37.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.69
$1.50CVE 142
-24.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥129.7K
$29.3KCVE 2.8M
-34.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K¥113.4K
$40.0KCVE 3.8M
-58.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Cape Verde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.2¥346
$137CVE 12.9K
-62.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.16¥68.7
$28.36CVE 2,685
-64.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.51¥77.9
$54.3CVE 5,137
-78.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Cape Verde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.53¥274
$34.34CVE 3,252
18.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.05¥102
$8.62CVE 816
74.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.10¥41.26
$5.89CVE 557
3.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Cape Verde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$402¥2,719
$167CVE 15.8K
141.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.7K¥119.5K
$2,998CVE 283.9K
489.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Cape Verde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57¥308
$58.2CVE 5,513
-21.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.26¥225
$31.44CVE 2,977
5.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6¥491
$84.5CVE 8,004
-14.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5¥503
$137CVE 13.0K
-45.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Cape Verde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429¥2,903
$448CVE 42.4K
-4.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$257¥1,739
$245CVE 23.2K
5.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$895¥6,055
$554CVE 52.5K
61.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$541¥3,660
$494CVE 46.7K
9.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,015¥33.9K
$1,004CVE 95.1K
399.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,469¥16.7K
$684CVE 64.8K
260.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Cape Verde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,055¥7,132
$281CVE 26.6K
275.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
7.67
-47.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: June 1, 2026
Last update for Cape Verde: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $286 in China vs $161 in Cape Verde. For reference, capital cities sit at $916 in Beijing (Pekin) and $470 in Praia.
💰Average salary: $861 in China vs $237 in Cape Verde. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 78% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 33% more in Cape Verde.
⭐Public transport is 50% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 263% higher in China, giving China stronger purchasing power.
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 Cape Verde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Cape Verde or China?
Cape Verde is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 42% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Cape Verde or China?
Housing costs more in China, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but China consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Cape Verde vs China?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Cape Verde, contributing to the overall 42% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Cape Verde and China on $1,000 per month?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Cape Verde, but in China it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Cape Verde or China?
Cape Verde 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.