Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Djibouti Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Djibouti

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in China versus $1,019 in Djibouti.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in China versus $1,665 in Djibouti.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,553 in China versus $2,310 in Djibouti.

Living in China costs about 30% less than in Djibouti on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, Djibouti 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Djibouti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71 ¥18.35
$9.92 DJF 1,764
-72.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.22 ¥157
$80.3 DJF 14.3K
-71.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 ¥33.84
$12.46 DJF 2,215
-59.87%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ¥20.88
$3.72 DJF 662
-17.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.25
$1.95 DJF 346
-75.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.97
$1.91 DJF 340
-84.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.00 ¥6.75
$5.47 DJF 972
-81.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 ¥14.24
$8.59 DJF 1,527
-75.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Djibouti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥11.82
$2.57 DJF 457
-31.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 ¥11.27
$9.48 DJF 1,685
-82.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.68
$3.81 DJF 678
-74.02%
Eggs
$1.57 ¥10.62
$7.08 DJF 1,258
-77.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.06 ¥88.4
$9.37 DJF 1,666
39.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.31 ¥22.42
$18.50 DJF 3,289
-82.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.82 ¥73.2
$12.32 DJF 2,191
-12.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.03
$3.84 DJF 682
-53.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 ¥8.40
$1.25 DJF 223
-0.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.19
$2.89 DJF 514
-48.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 ¥8.13
$1.58 DJF 280
-24.05%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.17
$1.25 DJF 223
-39.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.21
$1.40 DJF 249
-34.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ¥3.90
$5.51 DJF 979
-89.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.60
$0.58 DJF 102
-8.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥23.32
$2.67 DJF 474
29.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.95 ¥80.9
$20.96 DJF 3,725
-42.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥5.58
$2.29 DJF 406
-64.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ¥11.17
$3.59 DJF 637
-54.04%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Djibouti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.91
$0.29 DJF 52.0
48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.78 ¥141
$21.60 DJF 3,840
-3.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 ¥9.34
$2.90 DJF 515
-52.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.22
$5.66 DJF 1,006
-94.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 ¥45.59
$28.02 DJF 4,982
-75.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥7.66
$1.70 DJF 302
-33.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K ¥132.8K
$33.7K DJF 6.0M
-41.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K ¥113.7K
$33.4K DJF 5.9M
-49.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Djibouti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.7 ¥343
$518 DJF 92.0K
-90.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.12 ¥68.5
$32.16 DJF 5,716
-68.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.42 ¥77.3
$58.0 DJF 10.3K
-80.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Djibouti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.33 ¥273
$85.7 DJF 15.2K
-52.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.57 ¥98.6
$24.07 DJF 4,278
-39.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 ¥43.34
$8.38 DJF 1,490
-23.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Djibouti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,822
$342 DJF 60.7K
22.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.2K ¥116.7K
$8,843 DJF 1.6M
94.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Djibouti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.55 ¥308
$42.19 DJF 7,499
7.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.26 ¥218
$19.32 DJF 3,434
66.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.9 ¥494
$122 DJF 21.7K
-40.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6 ¥498
$55.9 DJF 9,933
31.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Djibouti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$433 ¥2,931
$1,428 DJF 253.9K
-69.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$261 ¥1,768
$473 DJF 84.0K
-44.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$905 ¥6,126
$1,014 DJF 180.3K
-10.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$533 ¥3,606
$1,490 DJF 264.9K
-64.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,965 ¥33.6K
$12.7K DJF 2.3M
-60.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,518 ¥17.0K
$6,158 DJF 1.1M
-59.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Djibouti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,063 ¥7,194
$2,818 DJF 500.9K
-62.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
9.6
-57.71%

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

Last update for China: June 15, 2026

Last update for Djibouti: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $287 in China, $718 in Djibouti. Capital cities: $886 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,435 in Djibouti.

National salary averages: $862 in China, $2,778 in Djibouti. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 150% higher in Djibouti.

Dining out costs 95% more in Djibouti.

Public transport is 80% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 222% higher in Djibouti, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Djibouti.

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 $862 per month in China and $1,019 in Djibouti, there's a 18% gap. 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 simply cheaper in China: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 in Djibouti is consistently higher than in China across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $2,000 go in China compared to Djibouti?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Djibouti it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Djibouti?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; Djibouti may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries