For one person, living is cheaper in China: $800 a month against $3,333 in Guam, rent and utilities included – about $30,400 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 Guam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $800 in China versus $3,333 in Guam.
China $800
Guam $3,333
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,266 in China versus $4,755 in Guam.
China $1,266
Guam $4,755
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,731 in China versus $6,178 in Guam.
China $1,731
Guam $6,178
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Guam: monthly costs span $151 to $2,734, compared to $462–$1,256 in China. City choice carries more weight in Guam.
🌍
Living in China costs about 76% less than in Guam on average.
📊
China (41% below) and Guam (146% above) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Guam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.92¥19.41
$24.87$24.87
-88.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.45¥149
$60.9$60.9
-63.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.33¥35.49
$15.28$15.28
-65.12%
Cappuccino
$3.04¥20.25
$5.46$5.46
-44.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.22
$2.49$2.49
-80.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30¥2.01
$1.91$1.91
-84.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.07¥7.09
$5.97$5.97
-82.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26¥15.04
$10.09$10.09
-77.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Guam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75¥11.65
$3.30$3.30
-46.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥10.76
$6.94$6.94
-76.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99¥6.60
$2.45$2.45
-59.59%
Eggs
$1.56¥10.40
$6.62$6.62
-76.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25¥88.2
$23.48$23.48
-43.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.37¥22.40
$10.40$10.40
-67.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.39¥75.8
$13.56$13.56
-16.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.13
$7.25$7.25
-74.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25¥8.30
$4.45$4.45
-71.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55¥10.35
$5.59$5.59
-72.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.28¥8.51
$7.95$7.95
-83.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.70
$4.89$4.89
-85.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86¥5.72
$4.60$4.60
-81.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65¥4.34
$4.37$4.37
-85.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59¥3.96
$2.01$2.01
-70.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76¥25.03
$9.58$9.58
-60.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.76¥78.3
$12.15$12.15
-3.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91¥6.08
$2.42$2.42
-62.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62¥10.81
$2.71$2.71
-40.22%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Guam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31¥2.09
$2.96$2.96
-89.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.75¥151
$54.6$54.6
-58.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.52¥10.12
$10.15$10.15
-85.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37¥2.49
$2.04$2.04
-81.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.28¥48.44
$32.38$32.38
-77.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25¥8.35
$1.31$1.31
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥129.1K
$29.2K$29.2K
-33.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K¥113.9K
$30.6K$30.6K
-44.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Guam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.5¥369
$380$380
-85.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.29¥55.2
$79.9$79.9
-89.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.97¥73.0
$83.4$83.4
-86.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Guam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.38¥269
$78.3$78.3
-48.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.76¥98.3
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76¥44.98
$13.16$13.16
-48.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Guam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465¥3,095
$566$566
-17.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.6K¥130.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Guam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.32¥308
$59.8$59.8
-22.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.30¥242
$98.5$98.5
-63.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.3¥508
$101$101
-24.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8¥525
$130$130
-39.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Guam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$396¥2,634
$1,866$1,866
-78.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240¥1,597
$1,511$1,511
-84.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822¥5,474
$2,808$2,808
-70.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466¥3,102
$2,453$2,453
-81.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,544¥30.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,282¥15.2K
$295$295
673.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Guam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075¥7,156
$4,615$4,615
-76.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 19, 2026
Last update for Guam: October 19, 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
$240 30%
Guam
$1.5K 45.3% ↑ 530%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$209 26.1%
Guam
$534 16% ↑ 156%$326
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$107 13.4%
Guam
$175 5.3% ↑ 63.8%$68
🍽Eating Out
China
$89 11.1%
Guam
$378 11.3% ↑ 326%$289
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$75 9.3%
Guam
$543 16.3% ↑ 626%$468
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.7%
Guam
$105 3.1% ↑ 94.1%$51
🚌Getting Around
China
$27 3.4%
Guam
$87 2.6% ↑ 217%$59
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$466 26.9%
Guam
$2.5K 39.7% ↑ 426%$2K
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$480 27.7%
Guam
$1.2K 20.2% ↑ 161%$770
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$238 13.7%
Guam
$389 6.3% ↑ 63.8%$152
🍽Eating Out
China
$287 16.6%
Guam
$1.1K 17.4% ↑ 275%$788
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$83 4.8%
Guam
$623 10.1% ↑ 650%$540
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.1%
Guam
$209 * 3.4% ↑ 70.7%$87
🚌Getting Around
China
$55 3.2%
Guam
$180 2.9% ↑ 224%$124
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $304 in China, $1,777 in Guam. Capital cities: $945 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $2,215 in Hagatna.
💰National salary averages: $870 in China, $4,987 in Guam. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 485% higher in Guam.
⭐Dining out costs 214% more in Guam.
⭐Public transport is 216% more expensive in Guam.
⭐Salaries are about 5.7 times higher in Guam, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Guam.
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 Guam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Guam?
At $800 per month in China and $3,333 in Guam, there’s a 316% 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 Guam?
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 Guam?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,777 in Guam and $304 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 Guam?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Guam 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 Guam?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability; Guam may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.