For one person, living is cheaper in China: $793 a month against $1,074 in Chad, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. The total is higher in Chad despite lower rent and utilities.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in China and in Chad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $793 per month in China vs $1,074 in Chad, rent included.
China $793
Chad $1,074
A couple spends around $1,261 per month in China vs $1,430 in Chad, rent included.
China $1,261
Chad $1,430
A family of three spends $1,730 per month in China vs $1,787 in Chad, rent included.
China $1,730
Chad $1,787
🌍
The cost of living in China is roughly 26% lower than in Chad on average.
📊
Both China and Chad are more affordable than the global median – China 41% lower, Chad 20% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Chad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.96¥19.76
$8.73FCFA 5,089
-66.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.74¥152
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.34¥35.70
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.04¥20.35
$0.81FCFA 472
275.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.22
$0.89FCFA 518
-46.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28¥1.85
$0.86FCFA 504
-67.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03¥6.92
$1.32FCFA 767
-21.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27¥15.16
$1.75FCFA 1,019
29.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Chad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥12.02
$3.69FCFA 2,152
-51.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69¥11.28
$0.35FCFA 206
382.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00¥6.69
$3.38FCFA 1,971
-70.41%
Eggs
$1.56¥10.42
$2.01FCFA 1,171
-22.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.44¥89.8
$3.32FCFA 1,937
304.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48¥23.28
$6.64FCFA 3,870
-47.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.49¥76.8
$3.51FCFA 2,046
227.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79¥12.00
$4.76FCFA 2,775
-62.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26¥8.41
$2.08FCFA 1,214
-39.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48¥9.92
$2.49FCFA 1,455
-40.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.31¥8.76
$2.41FCFA 1,403
-45.64%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.84
$1.62FCFA 947
-55.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.24
$1.57FCFA 915
-40.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61¥4.11
$0.52FCFA 304
17.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58¥3.89
$2.15FCFA 1,254
-73.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84¥25.65
$1.03FCFA 599
272.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.87¥79.4
$7.81FCFA 4,554
51.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86¥5.72
$1.13FCFA 657
-23.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69¥11.33
$1.72FCFA 1,001
-1.74%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Chad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31¥2.07
$0.42FCFA 245
-26.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.36¥150
$85.1FCFA 49.6K
-73.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47¥9.82
$0.45FCFA 262
226.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38¥2.53
$0.41FCFA 240
-7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.03¥47.04
$5.06FCFA 2,950
38.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24¥8.32
$1.30FCFA 758
-4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥128.5K
$11.8KFCFA 6.9M
62.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K¥115.6K
$11.0KFCFA 6.4M
56.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Chad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.3¥363
$42.11FCFA 24.6K
28.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.34¥55.7
$25.14FCFA 14.7K
-66.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.77¥72.0
$418FCFA 243.5K
-97.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Chad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.39¥270
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.77¥98.8
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.89¥46.08
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Chad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457¥3,057
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.1K¥134.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Chad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.10¥302
$25.53FCFA 14.9K
76.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.65¥238
$33.59FCFA 19.6K
6.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9¥521
$42.68FCFA 24.9K
82.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0¥522
$84.7FCFA 49.4K
-7.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Chad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$391¥2,615
$1,722FCFA 1.0M
-77.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$232¥1,549
$84.6FCFA 49.3K
173.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816¥5,457
$254FCFA 148.1K
221.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459¥3,070
$168FCFA 98.1K
172.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,585¥30.7K
$186FCFA 108.2K
2370.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,309¥15.4K
$181FCFA 105.5K
1177.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Chad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,084¥7,247
$343FCFA 200.2K
215.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
3.5
-1.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 12, 2026
Last update for Chad: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$232 29.2%
Chad
$85 7.9% ↓ 63.5%$147
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$211 26.6%
Chad
$235 21.8% ↑ 11.1%$23
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$107 13.4%
Chad
$84 7.8% ↓ 21.2%$23
🍽Eating Out
China
$89 11.2%
Chad
$97 * 9% ↑ 8.6%$7.7
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$73 9.3%
Chad
$485 45.2% ↑ 561%$411
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.8%
Chad
- * 0% ↓ 100%
🚌Getting Around
China
$27 3.4%
Chad
$89 8.3% ↑ 231%$62
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$459 26.6%
Chad
$168 9.4% ↓ 63.4%$291
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$486 28.1%
Chad
$538 30.1% ↑ 10.8%$52
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$237 13.7%
Chad
$187 10.4% ↓ 21.2%$50
🍽Eating Out
China
$289 16.7%
Chad
$205 * 11.5% ↓ 29.1%$84
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$82 4.7%
Chad
$510 28.5% ↑ 524%$428
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.1%
Chad
- * 0% ↓ 100%
🚌Getting Around
China
$55 3.2%
Chad
$179 10% ↑ 229%$125
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $298 in China vs $858 in Chad. For reference, capital cities sit at $940 in Beijing (Pekin) and $1,716 in N'Djamena.
💰Average salary: $871 in China vs $347 in Chad. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 188% higher in Chad.
⭐Public transport is 153% more expensive in Chad.
⭐Salaries are 151% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Chad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chad more expensive than China?
China is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 35% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Chad: a central one-bedroom averages $858 versus $298 in China.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Chad or in China?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in China, but in Chad it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Chad or to China?
China 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.