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Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Djibouti
For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $2,068 in Djibouti, rent and utilities included – about $15,300 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 Djibouti actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $2,068 in Djibouti.
China $791
Djibouti $2,068
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $3,229 in Djibouti.
China $1,251
Djibouti $3,229
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $4,389 in Djibouti.
China $1,711
Djibouti $4,389
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $465 to $1,222, compared to $2,069–$2,069 in Djibouti. City choice carries more weight in China.
🌍
Living in China costs about 62% less than in Djibouti on average.
📊
China (42% below) and Djibouti (52% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Djibouti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98¥19.79
$9.60DJF 1,704
-68.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09¥147
$73.3DJF 13.0K
-69.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20¥34.56
$15.52DJF 2,754
-66.49%
Cappuccino
$2.97¥19.72
$3.45DJF 612
-13.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.19
$1.86DJF 329
-74.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.00
$1.68DJF 298
-82.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.17
$6.84DJF 1,214
-84.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28¥15.13
$8.21DJF 1,457
-72.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Djibouti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥11.95
$2.85DJF 507
-36.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68¥11.14
$9.42DJF 1,672
-82.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.13
$2.79DJF 495
-67.03%
Eggs
$1.61¥10.72
$5.84DJF 1,037
-72.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.38¥89.0
$9.73DJF 1,726
37.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35¥22.25
$18.01DJF 3,196
-81.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35¥75.5
$12.30DJF 2,183
-7.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.11
$3.71DJF 658
-50.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.68
$1.20DJF 213
9.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥9.88
$2.63DJF 466
-43.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27¥8.46
$1.58DJF 280
-19.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.73
$1.56DJF 278
-54.49%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.21
$1.69DJF 300
-44.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62¥4.11
$5.71DJF 1,013
-89.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.74
$0.54DJF 95.6
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78¥25.13
$1.94DJF 345
94.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.13¥80.7
$20.72DJF 3,678
-41.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥5.53
$2.39DJF 424
-65.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68¥11.20
$3.45DJF 613
-51.30%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Djibouti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.91
$0.43DJF 76.7
-32.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.83¥119
$42.59DJF 7,560
-58.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49¥9.88
$2.84DJF 504
-47.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37¥2.49
$5.59DJF 992
-93.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.10¥47.19
$28.15DJF 4,996
-74.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.36
$2.23DJF 397
-43.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥129.3K
$34.0KDJF 6.0M
-42.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥116.6K
$33.3KDJF 5.9M
-47.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Djibouti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.6¥363
$526DJF 93.3K
-89.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73¥58.1
$32.11DJF 5,698
-72.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.07¥73.6
$59.9DJF 10.6K
-81.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Djibouti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.77¥271
$85.8DJF 15.2K
-52.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48¥96.3
$28.63DJF 5,081
-49.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78¥45.07
$12.46DJF 2,211
-45.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Djibouti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517¥3,434
$338DJF 60.0K
52.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8K¥131.7K
$8,942DJF 1.6M
121.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Djibouti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.53¥309
$42.81DJF 7,598
8.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66¥237
$19.91DJF 3,533
79.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0¥512
$121DJF 21.5K
-36.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3¥533
$55.1DJF 9,780
45.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Djibouti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386¥2,565
$675DJF 119.7K
-42.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235¥1,559
$472DJF 83.8K
-50.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822¥5,463
$999DJF 177.3K
-17.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453¥3,012
$1,263DJF 224.1K
-64.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,697¥31.2K
$12.6KDJF 2.2M
-62.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372¥15.8K
$6,183DJF 1.1M
-61.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Djibouti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,093¥7,267
$2,790DJF 495.1K
-60.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
13.07
-73.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 24, 2026
Last update for Djibouti: October 26, 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%
Djibouti
$472 22.8% ↑ 101%$238
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$210 26.5%
Djibouti
$455 22% ↑ 117%$245
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$108 13.6%
Djibouti
$108 5.2% ↓ 0.1%$0.2
🍽Eating Out
China
$88 11.1%
Djibouti
$230 11.1% ↑ 161%$141
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$74 9.4%
Djibouti
$618 29.9% ↑ 731%$543
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.9%
Djibouti
$111 5.4% ↑ 104%$56
🚌Getting Around
China
$22 2.8%
Djibouti
$75 3.6% ↑ 236%$53
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$453 26.5%
Djibouti
$1.3K 28.8% ↑ 179%$810
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$483 28.3%
Djibouti
$1K 23.4% ↑ 113%$545
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$239 14%
Djibouti
$239 5.5% ↓ 0.2%$0.4
🍽Eating Out
China
$284 16.6%
Djibouti
$808 18.4% ↑ 185%$525
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$83 4.9%
Djibouti
$650 14.8% ↑ 682%$567
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.2%
Djibouti
$250 5.7% ↑ 103%$127
🚌Getting Around
China
$45 2.6%
Djibouti
$151 3.4% ↑ 234%$106
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $298 in China, $672 in Djibouti. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $672 in Djibouti.
💰National salary averages: $873 in China, $2,785 in Djibouti. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 126% higher in Djibouti.
⭐Dining out costs 227% more in Djibouti.
⭐Public transport is 139% more expensive in Djibouti.
⭐Salaries are about 3.2 times higher in Djibouti, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Djibouti.
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 Djibouti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Djibouti?
At $791 per month in China and $2,068 in Djibouti, China comes out about 62% 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 Djibouti?
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 Djibouti?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $672 in Djibouti 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 Djibouti?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.