For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $2,350 in French Guiana, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
How much you'll spend in China and in French Guiana
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 French Guiana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $2,350 in French Guiana.
China $791
French Guiana $2,350
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $3,835 in French Guiana.
China $1,251
French Guiana $3,835
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $5,320 in French Guiana.
China $1,711
French Guiana $5,320
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in French Guiana: monthly costs span $175 to $2,355, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in French Guiana.
🌍
Living in China costs about 66% less than in French Guiana on average.
📊
China (42% below) and French Guiana (73% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
French Guiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98¥19.78
$13.08€11.72
-77.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09¥147
$110€98.9
-80.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20¥34.55
$10.60€9.49
-50.94%
Cappuccino
$2.97¥19.71
$3.92€3.51
-24.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.18
$3.38€3.03
-85.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.00
$2.87€2.57
-89.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.17
$3.99€3.58
-72.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28¥15.13
$4.49€4.02
-49.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
French Guiana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥11.94
$4.02€3.60
-55.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68¥11.13
$4.05€3.62
-58.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.13
$2.92€2.62
-68.49%
Eggs
$1.61¥10.72
$7.34€6.57
-78.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.38¥88.9
$30.89€27.67
-56.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35¥22.25
$16.55€14.83
-79.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35¥75.4
$29.95€26.82
-62.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.11
$5.14€4.60
-64.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.68
$4.46€3.99
-70.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥9.88
$5.14€4.60
-71.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27¥8.46
$9.52€8.53
-86.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.73
$4.92€4.41
-85.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.20
$6.86€6.15
-86.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62¥4.11
$3.31€2.97
-81.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.73
$2.07€1.86
-72.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78¥25.12
$9.62€8.62
-60.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.13¥80.6
$10.65€9.54
13.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥5.53
$2.88€2.58
-71.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68¥11.19
$1.14€1.02
47.37%
🚌 Getting Around
China
French Guiana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.91
$2.20€1.97
-86.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.83¥118
$34.19€30.62
-47.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49¥9.88
$5.69€5.09
-73.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37¥2.49
$4.01€3.59
-90.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.10¥47.17
$7.98€7.14
-11.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.36
$2.18€1.95
-42.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥129.2K
$45.5K€40.8K
-57.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥116.5K
$44.5K€39.9K
-60.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
French Guiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.6¥363
$224€201
-75.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73¥58.0
$44.71€40.05
-80.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.07¥73.5
$68.2€61.1
-83.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
French Guiana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.77¥271
$35.78€32.05
13.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48¥96.2
$28.17€25.23
-48.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78¥45.05
$9.27€8.30
-26.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
French Guiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517¥3,433
$664€595
-22.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8K¥131.6K
$10.3K€9,222
92.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
French Guiana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.53¥309
$100€89.9
-53.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66¥237
$67.3€60.3
-47.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0¥512
$126€113
-38.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3¥533
$99.9€89.5
-19.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
French Guiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386¥2,564
$1,098€984
-64.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235¥1,558
$863€773
-72.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822¥5,461
$1,817€1,628
-54.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453¥3,011
$1,783€1,597
-74.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,697¥31.2K
$3,091€2,769
51.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372¥15.8K
$3,426€3,068
-30.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
French Guiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,093¥7,264
$2,218€1,986
-50.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
4.5
-23.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 24, 2026
Last update for French Guiana: 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%
French Guiana
$863 36.7% ↑ 268%$629
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$210 26.5%
French Guiana
$612 26.1% ↑ 191%$402
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$108 13.6%
French Guiana
$177 7.5% ↑ 64.4%$69
🍽Eating Out
China
$88 11.1%
French Guiana
$237 10.1% ↑ 170%$149
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$74 9.4%
French Guiana
$337 14.4% ↑ 353%$263
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.9%
French Guiana
$54 2.3% ↓ 0%$0
🚌Getting Around
China
$22 2.8%
French Guiana
$69 2.9% ↑ 208%$46
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$453 26.5%
French Guiana
$1.8K 33.5% ↑ 294%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$483 28.3%
French Guiana
$1.5K 27.5% ↑ 202%$978
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$239 14%
French Guiana
$394 7.4% ↑ 64.3%$154
🍽Eating Out
China
$284 16.6%
French Guiana
$1K 19.2% ↑ 260%$739
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$83 4.9%
French Guiana
$382 7.2% ↑ 360%$299
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.2%
French Guiana
$137 2.6% ↑ 11.1%$14
🚌Getting Around
China
$45 2.6%
French Guiana
$142 2.7% ↑ 213%$97
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $298 in China, $1,192 in French Guiana. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $933 in Cayenne.
💰National salary averages: $873 in China, $2,255 in French Guiana. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 300% higher in French Guiana.
⭐Dining out costs 418% more in French Guiana.
⭐Public transport is 89% more expensive in French Guiana.
⭐Salaries are about 2.6 times higher in French Guiana, 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 French Guiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or French Guiana?
At $791 per month in China and $2,350 in French Guiana, China comes out about 66% 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 French Guiana?
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 French Guiana?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,192 in French Guiana and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $2,000 go in China compared to French Guiana?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in French Guiana 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 French Guiana?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.