Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Jordan Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Jordan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $719 in China versus $675 in Jordan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in China versus $1,084 in Jordan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,574 in China versus $1,493 in Jordan.

Living in China is roughly 7% more expensive than in Jordan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, Jordan 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Jordan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.92 ¥19.59
$5.76 JOD 4.07
-49.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.23 ¥149
$49.36 JOD 34.93
-54.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 ¥34.36
$7.19 JOD 5.09
-28.65%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ¥20.04
$3.48 JOD 2.46
-14.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.50
$0.52 JOD 0.37
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.87
$0.42 JOD 0.30
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 ¥7.05
$8.51 JOD 6.02
-87.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ¥15.18
$10.16 JOD 7.19
-77.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Jordan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ¥12.12
$1.40 JOD 0.99
29.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥11.24
$0.58 JOD 0.41
189.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ¥6.05
$1.55 JOD 1.10
-41.94%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.44
$2.03 JOD 1.44
-23.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 ¥88.7
$7.41 JOD 5.25
78.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.49 ¥23.41
$5.56 JOD 3.94
-37.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.23 ¥75.2
$12.17 JOD 8.61
-7.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ¥12.44
$1.96 JOD 1.39
-5.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.47
$1.66 JOD 1.17
-24.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 ¥10.23
$1.43 JOD 1.01
6.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.46
$0.70 JOD 0.49
80.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.92
$0.91 JOD 0.64
-19.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 ¥5.89
$0.81 JOD 0.58
8.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ¥4.34
$0.60 JOD 0.42
8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.89
$0.62 JOD 0.44
-6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.71 ¥24.85
$3.55 JOD 2.51
4.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.80 ¥79.1
$18.60 JOD 13.16
-36.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ¥5.69
$5.04 JOD 3.57
-83.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ¥11.20
$5.14 JOD 3.64
-67.51%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Jordan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.77 JOD 0.54
-62.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.67 ¥152
$39.56 JOD 28.00
-42.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ¥10.07
$0.58 JOD 0.41
158.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.32
$1.39 JOD 0.99
-74.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.29 ¥48.86
$6.88 JOD 4.87
5.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ¥8.18
$1.58 JOD 1.12
-22.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ¥127.3K
$27.7K JOD 19.6K
-31.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K ¥116.3K
$32.0K JOD 22.6K
-45.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Jordan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.0 ¥362
$103 JOD 72.7
-47.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.41 ¥56.4
$15.49 JOD 10.96
-45.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.82 ¥72.5
$30.99 JOD 21.93
-65.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Jordan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.41 ¥271
$40.62 JOD 28.75
-0.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.63 ¥98.0
$33.28 JOD 23.55
-56.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ¥44.20
$11.30 JOD 8.00
-41.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Jordan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$452 ¥3,026
$307 JOD 217
47.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K ¥128.9K
$6,858 JOD 4,854
180.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Jordan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.23 ¥296
$45.80 JOD 32.41
-3.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.46 ¥238
$67.6 JOD 47.84
-47.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.7 ¥501
$104 JOD 73.5
-28.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6 ¥527
$69.7 JOD 49.30
12.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Jordan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$394 ¥2,643
$286 JOD 202
38.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 ¥1,631
$194 JOD 137
25.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 ¥5,663
$524 JOD 371
61.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 ¥3,223
$355 JOD 251
35.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,609 ¥30.9K
$1,147 JOD 811
301.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,327 ¥15.6K
$757 JOD 536
207.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Jordan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 ¥7,103
$761 JOD 539
39.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.47
7.68
-54.82%

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

Last update for China: September 14, 2026

Last update for Jordan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $294 in China, $136 in Jordan. Capital cities: $985 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $462 in Amman.

National salary averages: $867 in China, $637 in Jordan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 116% higher in China.

Dining out costs 105% more in Jordan.

Public transport is 113% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 36% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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 $837 per month in China and $577 in Jordan, there's a 45% 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 Jordan?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Jordan: 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 Jordan?
Rent in China is consistently higher than in Jordan 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 Jordan?
In Jordan, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in China 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 Jordan?
It depends on what you're after: Jordan wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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