Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Jordan

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $1,012 in Jordan, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

China
Jordan
🇨🇳 China
$791
/mo nomad
🇯🇴 Jordan
$1,012
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in China and in Jordan

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 Jordan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $1,012 in Jordan.

  • China $791
  • Jordan $1,012

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $1,601 in Jordan.

  • China $1,251
  • Jordan $1,601

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $2,190 in Jordan.

  • China $1,711
  • Jordan $2,190

Internal cost variation is higher in Jordan: monthly costs span $191 to $1,209, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in Jordan.

Living in China costs about 22% less than in Jordan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 42% lower, Jordan 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Jordan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98 ¥19.78
$5.66 JOD 4.01
-47.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09 ¥147
$51.9 JOD 36.77
-57.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.20 ¥34.55
$7.12 JOD 5.04
-26.97%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ¥19.71
$3.64 JOD 2.58
-18.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.18
$0.48 JOD 0.34
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.00
$0.40 JOD 0.28
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 ¥7.17
$8.29 JOD 5.87
-86.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ¥15.13
$9.81 JOD 6.94
-76.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Jordan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 ¥11.94
$1.48 JOD 1.05
21.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥11.13
$0.58 JOD 0.41
189.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.13
$1.57 JOD 1.11
-41.40%
Eggs
$1.61 ¥10.72
$2.07 JOD 1.46
-22.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.38 ¥88.9
$7.52 JOD 5.32
77.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 ¥22.25
$5.48 JOD 3.88
-38.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.35 ¥75.4
$12.16 JOD 8.61
-6.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥12.11
$1.94 JOD 1.37
-6.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 ¥8.68
$1.67 JOD 1.18
-21.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 ¥9.88
$1.43 JOD 1.01
4.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 ¥8.46
$0.69 JOD 0.49
84.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ¥4.73
$0.85 JOD 0.60
-16.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.20
$0.74 JOD 0.53
25.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ¥4.11
$0.62 JOD 0.44
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.73
$0.60 JOD 0.43
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78 ¥25.12
$3.47 JOD 2.46
8.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.13 ¥80.6
$18.26 JOD 12.93
-33.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.53
$4.49 JOD 3.18
-81.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥11.19
$4.89 JOD 3.46
-65.64%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Jordan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.91
$0.76 JOD 0.54
-61.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.83 ¥118
$43.11 JOD 30.52
-58.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ¥9.88
$0.57 JOD 0.41
161.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.49
$1.45 JOD 1.03
-74.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.10 ¥47.17
$7.02 JOD 4.97
1.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 ¥8.36
$1.63 JOD 1.16
-22.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K ¥129.2K
$32.9K JOD 23.3K
-40.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K ¥116.5K
$33.3K JOD 23.6K
-47.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Jordan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.6 ¥363
$102 JOD 72.1
-46.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73 ¥58.0
$14.89 JOD 10.55
-41.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.07 ¥73.5
$30.72 JOD 21.75
-63.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Jordan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.77 ¥271
$41.68 JOD 29.51
-2.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48 ¥96.2
$34.69 JOD 24.56
-58.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 ¥45.05
$11.49 JOD 8.14
-40.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Jordan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$517 ¥3,433
$317 JOD 225
62.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K ¥131.6K
$6,670 JOD 4,722
197.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Jordan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.53 ¥309
$47.49 JOD 33.62
-2.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66 ¥237
$70.1 JOD 49.60
-49.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ¥512
$102 JOD 71.9
-24.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 ¥533
$66.9 JOD 47.35
20.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Jordan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$386 ¥2,564
$319 JOD 226
21.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ¥1,558
$209 JOD 148
12.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ¥5,461
$524 JOD 371
56.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$453 ¥3,011
$367 JOD 260
23.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,697 ¥31.2K
$1,135 JOD 804
313.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,372 ¥15.8K
$772 JOD 547
207.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Jordan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,093 ¥7,264
$774 JOD 548
41.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
7.7
-55.06%

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

Last update for China: October 24, 2026

Last update for Jordan: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
China
$235
Jordan
$209 10.9% $26
Groceries & Markets
China
$210
Jordan
$233 10.9% $23
Clothing & Footwear
China
$108
Jordan
$129 19.4% $21
Eating Out
China
$88
Jordan
$175 98.5% $87
Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$74
Jordan
$147 98.3% $73
Sport & Entertainment
China
$54
Jordan
$65 19% $10
Getting Around
China
$22
Jordan
$54 142% $32

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $298 in China, $244 in Jordan. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $524 in Amman.

National salary averages: $873 in China, $634 in Jordan. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 22% higher in China.

Dining out costs 155% more in Jordan.

Public transport is 128% more expensive in Jordan.

Salaries are 38% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

Good to know
🇨🇳 China
🇯🇴 Jordan
🕒 Local time
11:02 11:02 AM
06:02 6:02 AM
5 h behind China
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,442,965,000
10,428,241
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JOD, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 6.64 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.42 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

Jordanian Dinar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.708 JOD (1 JOD = 1.41 USD). 1 EUR = 0.791 JOD (1 JOD = 1.26 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • China Jordan 7,050 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • China
  • Jordan

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 Jordan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Jordan?
At $791 per month in China and $1,012 in Jordan, China comes out about 22% 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 Jordan?
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 I choose between living in China and in Jordan?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.

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