For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $1,489 in Gabon, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Other living expenses 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 Gabon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $1,489 in Gabon.
China $791
Gabon $1,489
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $2,449 in Gabon.
China $1,251
Gabon $2,449
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $3,409 in Gabon.
China $1,711
Gabon $3,409
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $465 to $1,222, compared to $1,500–$1,500 in Gabon. City choice carries more weight in China.
🌍
Living in China costs about 47% less than in Gabon on average.
📊
China (42% below) and Gabon (9% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Gabon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98¥19.84
$16.70FCFA 9,839
-82.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09¥147
$69.3FCFA 40.8K
-68.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20¥34.66
$15.52FCFA 9,139
-66.49%
Cappuccino
$2.97¥19.77
$6.01FCFA 3,541
-50.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.19
$1.71FCFA 1,010
-71.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.01
$1.38FCFA 812
-78.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.19
$1.04FCFA 610
3.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28¥15.18
$1.89FCFA 1,112
20.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Gabon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥11.98
$3.44FCFA 2,027
-47.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68¥11.17
$1.20FCFA 708
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.14
$2.82FCFA 1,664
-67.38%
Eggs
$1.61¥10.75
$4.37FCFA 2,576
-63.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.38¥89.2
$10.17FCFA 5,991
31.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35¥22.31
$8.66FCFA 5,102
-61.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35¥75.7
$25.74FCFA 15.2K
-55.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.14
$3.06FCFA 1,801
-40.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.71
$3.79FCFA 2,233
-65.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥9.91
$3.72FCFA 2,188
-59.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27¥8.49
$3.46FCFA 2,037
-63.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.74
$2.99FCFA 1,763
-76.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.22
$4.30FCFA 2,532
-78.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62¥4.12
$2.18FCFA 1,286
-71.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.75
$1.66FCFA 980
-66.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78¥25.19
$2.50FCFA 1,472
51.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.13¥80.9
$11.61FCFA 6,837
4.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥5.55
$0.96FCFA 565
-13.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68¥11.23
$1.27FCFA 747
32.28%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Gabon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.92
$0.36FCFA 210
-19.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.83¥119
$34.41FCFA 20.3K
-48.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49¥9.91
$1.27FCFA 748
17.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37¥2.50
$0.73FCFA 429
-49.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.10¥47.31
$17.18FCFA 10.1K
-58.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.39
$1.04FCFA 613
21.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥129.6K
$29.2KFCFA 17.2M
-33.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥116.9K
$22.2KFCFA 13.1M
-20.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Gabon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.6¥364
$85.7FCFA 50.5K
-36.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73¥58.2
$33.87FCFA 19.9K
-74.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.07¥73.8
$64.6FCFA 38.1K
-82.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Gabon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.77¥272
$63.4FCFA 37.3K
-35.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48¥96.5
$25.97FCFA 15.3K
-44.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78¥45.19
$4.59FCFA 2,702
47.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Gabon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517¥3,443
$171FCFA 101.0K
201.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.8K¥132.0K
$5,599FCFA 3.3M
253.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Gabon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.53¥310
$84.8FCFA 50.0K
-45.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66¥238
$42.50FCFA 25.0K
-16.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0¥513
$51.5FCFA 30.4K
49.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3¥535
$102FCFA 59.9K
-21.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Gabon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386¥2,572
$1,007FCFA 593.1K
-61.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235¥1,563
$418FCFA 246.2K
-43.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822¥5,478
$2,105FCFA 1.2M
-60.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453¥3,020
$861FCFA 506.9K
-47.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,697¥31.3K
$3,621FCFA 2.1M
29.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372¥15.8K
$2,758FCFA 1.6M
-14.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Gabon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,093¥7,286
$431FCFA 253.7K
153.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
11.5
-69.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 24, 2026
Last update for Gabon: October 25, 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%
Gabon
$418 28.1% ↑ 78.2%$184
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$210 26.5%
Gabon
$373 25.1% ↑ 77.7%$163
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$108 13.6%
Gabon
$126 8.5% ↑ 17.2%$19
🍽Eating Out
China
$88 11.1%
Gabon
$274 18.4% ↑ 211%$186
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$74 9.4%
Gabon
$184 12.4% ↑ 148%$110
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.9%
Gabon
$73 4.9% ↑ 33.5%$18
🚌Getting Around
China
$22 2.8%
Gabon
$41 2.7% ↑ 82.4%$18
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$453 26.5%
Gabon
$861 25.2% ↑ 90%$408
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$483 28.3%
Gabon
$893 26.2% ↑ 84.9%$410
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$239 14%
Gabon
$281 8.2% ↑ 17.2%$41
🍽Eating Out
China
$284 16.6%
Gabon
$903 26.5% ↑ 218%$620
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$83 4.9%
Gabon
$218 6.4% ↑ 162%$135
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.2%
Gabon
$171 5% ↑ 38.9%$48
🚌Getting Around
China
$45 2.6%
Gabon
$82 2.4% ↑ 81.7%$37
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $298 in China, $1,028 in Gabon. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,028 in Libreville.
💰National salary averages: $873 in China, $417 in Gabon. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 245% higher in Gabon.
⭐Dining out costs 209% more in Gabon.
⭐Public transport is 89% more expensive in Gabon.
⭐Salaries are about 2.1 times 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 Gabon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Gabon?
At $791 per month in China and $1,489 in Gabon, there’s a 88% 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 Gabon?
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 Gabon?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,028 in Gabon 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 Gabon?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability; Gabon may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.