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Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Cyprus
For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $1,956 in Cyprus, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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 Cyprus actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $1,956 in Cyprus.
China $791
Cyprus $1,956
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $2,996 in Cyprus.
China $1,251
Cyprus $2,996
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $4,037 in Cyprus.
China $1,711
Cyprus $4,037
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Cyprus: monthly costs span $1,305 to $2,773, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in Cyprus.
🌍
Living in China costs about 60% less than in Cyprus on average.
📊
China (42% below) and Cyprus (44% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Cyprus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98¥19.80
$16.57€14.86
-82.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09¥147
$67.5€60.6
-67.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20¥34.58
$9.19€8.25
-43.42%
Cappuccino
$2.97¥19.73
$3.76€3.37
-21.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.19
$2.02€1.81
-76.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.01
$1.02€0.91
-70.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.17
$4.36€3.91
-75.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28¥15.14
$5.63€5.05
-59.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Cyprus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥11.95
$1.78€1.60
1.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68¥11.14
$2.03€1.82
-17.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.13
$2.91€2.61
-68.38%
Eggs
$1.61¥10.73
$4.57€4.10
-64.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.38¥89.0
$12.94€11.61
3.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35¥22.27
$8.54€7.66
-60.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35¥75.5
$13.30€11.94
-14.66%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.12
$3.29€2.95
-44.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.69
$2.15€1.93
-39.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥9.89
$2.45€2.20
-39.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27¥8.47
$3.20€2.87
-60.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.73
$1.65€1.48
-56.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.21
$1.38€1.24
-32.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62¥4.12
$0.97€0.87
-36.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.74
$1.07€0.96
-47.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78¥25.14
$5.75€5.16
-34.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.13¥80.7
$7.75€6.96
56.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥5.54
$1.76€1.58
-52.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68¥11.20
$2.49€2.23
-32.53%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Cyprus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.91
$2.25€2.02
-87.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.83¥119
$55.5€49.77
-67.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49¥9.89
$7.65€6.86
-80.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37¥2.49
$2.19€1.96
-83.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.10¥47.21
$41.91€37.61
-83.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.37
$1.71€1.53
-26.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥129.3K
$31.6K€28.3K
-38.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥116.6K
$31.6K€28.4K
-44.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Cyprus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.6¥363
$208€186
-73.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73¥58.1
$21.15€18.98
-58.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.07¥73.6
$31.46€28.23
-64.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Cyprus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.77¥271
$72.8€65.3
-43.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48¥96.3
$28.18€25.29
-48.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78¥45.09
$11.11€9.97
-38.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Cyprus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517¥3,436
$503€452
2.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8K¥131.8K
$8,599€7,716
130.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Cyprus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.53¥309
$86.4€77.6
-46.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66¥237
$50.0€44.89
-28.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0¥512
$99.3€89.1
-22.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3¥534
$106€94.9
-24.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Cyprus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386¥2,566
$1,039€932
-62.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235¥1,560
$815€731
-71.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822¥5,466
$1,920€1,723
-57.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453¥3,013
$1,478€1,326
-69.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,697¥31.2K
$3,815€3,423
23.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372¥15.8K
$2,646€2,374
-10.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Cyprus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,093¥7,270
$1,888€1,694
-42.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
4.01
-13.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 24, 2026
Last update for Cyprus: October 24, 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
$235 29.6%
Cyprus
$815 41.7% ↑ 248%$580
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$210 26.5%
Cyprus
$298 15.3% ↑ 42.1%$88
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$108 13.6%
Cyprus
$154 7.9% ↑ 42.6%$46
🍽Eating Out
China
$88 11.1%
Cyprus
$250 12.8% ↑ 184%$162
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$74 9.4%
Cyprus
$260 13.3% ↑ 250%$186
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.9%
Cyprus
$95 4.9% ↑ 74.8%$41
🚌Getting Around
China
$22 2.8%
Cyprus
$83 4.3% ↑ 272%$61
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$453 26.5%
Cyprus
$1.5K 36.6% ↑ 226%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$483 28.3%
Cyprus
$699 17.3% ↑ 44.7%$216
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$239 14%
Cyprus
$341 8.5% ↑ 42.6%$102
🍽Eating Out
China
$284 16.6%
Cyprus
$848 21% ↑ 199%$564
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$83 4.9%
Cyprus
$282 7% ↑ 239%$198
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.2%
Cyprus
$218 5.4% ↑ 77.1%$95
🚌Getting Around
China
$45 2.6%
Cyprus
$171 4.2% ↑ 277%$125
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $298 in China, $834 in Cyprus. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $784 in Nicosia.
💰National salary averages: $873 in China, $1,533 in Cyprus. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 180% higher in Cyprus.
⭐Dining out costs 191% more in Cyprus.
⭐Public transport is 183% more expensive in Cyprus.
⭐Salaries are 76% higher in Cyprus, 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 Cyprus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Cyprus?
At $791 per month in China and $1,956 in Cyprus, China comes out about 60% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or Cyprus?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in China: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between China and Cyprus?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $834 in Cyprus and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Cyprus?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.