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 Mauritania actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in China versus $752 in Mauritania.
China $784
Mauritania $752
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,268 in China versus $1,272 in Mauritania.
China $1,268
Mauritania $1,272
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,752 in China versus $1,792 in Mauritania.
China $1,752
Mauritania $1,792
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $461 to $1,250, compared to $263–$820 in Mauritania. City choice carries more weight in China.
🌍
Living in China is roughly 4% more expensive than in Mauritania on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: China 42% lower, Mauritania 44% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
China
Mauritania
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90¥19.39
$2.47MRU 98.9
17.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.02¥147
$23.38MRU 936
-5.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20¥34.74
$6.11MRU 245
-14.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.80MRU 72.1
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.74MRU 69.6
-
Cappuccino
$3.04¥20.31
$2.31MRU 92.7
31.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52¥3.45
$1.77MRU 71.0
-70.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28¥1.85
$2.12MRU 84.7
-86.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.01¥6.75
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19¥14.64
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Mauritania
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75¥11.71
$1.44MRU 57.7
21.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64¥10.96
$0.28MRU 11.28
485.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92¥6.12
$1.33MRU 53.3
-30.83%
Eggs
$1.59¥10.66
$2.23MRU 89.5
-28.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.99¥86.8
$6.16MRU 247
110.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35¥22.38
$5.36MRU 214
-37.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.18¥74.7
$6.69MRU 268
67.12%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80¥12.02
$2.96MRU 119
-39.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.78
$1.76MRU 70.6
-25.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47¥9.80
$1.43MRU 57.1
2.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.32¥8.79
$0.85MRU 33.90
55.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76¥5.07
$0.82MRU 32.79
-7.32%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92¥6.15
$0.78MRU 31.32
17.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59¥3.94
$0.75MRU 29.91
-21.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.63
$0.60MRU 24.15
-10.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$9.83MRU 394
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.59MRU 104
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.74MRU 69.8
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79¥25.34
$2.45MRU 98.0
54.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.14¥81.1
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82¥5.48
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63¥10.92
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
China
Mauritania
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.93
$0.46MRU 18.46
-36.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.33¥149
$21.68MRU 868
3.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53¥10.24
$0.91MRU 36.38
68.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.31
$0.35MRU 14.08
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.00¥46.79
$4.87MRU 195
43.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31¥8.77
$1.34MRU 53.9
-2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K¥127.1K
$7,504MRU 300.4K
153.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥113.7K
$9,220MRU 369.2K
84.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Mauritania
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.1¥362
$127MRU 5,086
-57.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42¥56.3
$21.98MRU 880
-61.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.72¥71.6
$59.6MRU 2,386
-82.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Mauritania
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.72¥272
$86.6MRU 3,466
-52.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.58¥97.4
$251MRU 10.0K
-94.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76¥45.15
$4.09MRU 164
65.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Mauritania
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$462¥3,089
$453MRU 18.1K
2.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.6K¥131.0K
$7,361MRU 294.7K
166.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Mauritania
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57¥305
$15.08MRU 604
202.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.05¥241
$22.55MRU 903
59.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4¥504
$67.1MRU 2,685
12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0¥528
$46.17MRU 1,849
71.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Mauritania
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386¥2,577
$194MRU 7,755
99.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240¥1,601
$137MRU 5,501
74.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$843¥5,637
$718MRU 28.7K
17.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461¥3,083
$277MRU 11.1K
66.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,590¥30.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,279¥15.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Mauritania
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,060¥7,082
$645MRU 25.8K
64.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
20
-82.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: October 4, 2026
Last update for Mauritania: October 4, 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 30.1%
Mauritania
$137 18% ↓ 42.7%$102
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$207 26.1%
Mauritania
$146 19.2% ↓ 29.4%$61
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$106 13.4%
Mauritania
$68 8.9% ↓ 36.1%$38
🍽Eating Out
China
$88 11.1%
Mauritania
$81 10.7% ↓ 7.4%$6.5
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$73 9.2%
Mauritania
$209 27.4% ↑ 185%$135
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$54 6.8%
Mauritania
$95 12.4% ↑ 74.7%$41
🚌Getting Around
China
$27 3.4%
Mauritania
$26 3.4% ↓ 2.1%$0.6
🏠Accommodation & Living
China
$461 26.9%
Mauritania
$277 15.5% ↓ 40%$184
🛒Groceries & Markets
China
$477 27.8%
Mauritania
$360 20.2% ↓ 24.4%$116
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
China
$236 13.8%
Mauritania
$151 8.5% ↓ 36.1%$85
🍽Eating Out
China
$283 16.5%
Mauritania
$271 15.2% ↓ 4.3%$12
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$82 4.8%
Mauritania
$231 12.9% ↑ 182%$149
🎉Sport & Entertainment
China
$123 7.2%
Mauritania
$440 24.7% ↑ 258%$317
🚌Getting Around
China
$54 3.2%
Mauritania
$53 3% ↓ 1.4%$0.8
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $297 in China, $181 in Mauritania. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $297 in Nouakchott.
💰National salary averages: $868 in China, $624 in Mauritania. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 64% higher in China.
⭐Public transport is 55% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 39% 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 Mauritania: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Mauritania?
At $784 per month in China and $752 in Mauritania, there's a 4% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do rents compare between China and Mauritania?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $297 in China and $181 in Mauritania. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $1,000 go in China compared to Mauritania?
In Mauritania, $1,000 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 Mauritania?
It depends on what you're after: Mauritania wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.