Cost of Living Comparison Between China and New Caledonia Cost of Living Comparison Between China and New Caledonia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in China versus $950 in New Caledonia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in China versus $1,466 in New Caledonia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,550 in China versus $1,982 in New Caledonia.

Living in China costs about 25% less than in New Caledonia on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, New Caledonia 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
New Caledonia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 ¥19.35
$14.42 CFPF 1,501
-80.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.44 ¥159
$96.3 CFPF 10.0K
-75.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 ¥32.75
$14.50 CFPF 1,509
-66.62%
Cappuccino
$3.11 ¥21.06
$5.87 CFPF 611
-47.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.00
$2.49 CFPF 259
-82.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.99
$1.06 CFPF 111
-72.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ¥6.64
$11.02 CFPF 1,147
-91.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ¥13.88
$7.63 CFPF 793
-73.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
New Caledonia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 ¥12.47
$1.17 CFPF 122
57.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥10.94
$3.09 CFPF 321
-47.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.28
$1.90 CFPF 198
-51.05%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.03
$5.53 CFPF 576
-70.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.15 ¥89.0
$19.07 CFPF 1,985
-31.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.26 ¥22.09
$22.43 CFPF 2,334
-85.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.62 ¥71.9
$26.35 CFPF 2,741
-59.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.19
$4.20 CFPF 437
-57.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.77
$7.33 CFPF 763
-82.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 ¥9.90
$6.68 CFPF 695
-78.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 ¥8.15
$7.37 CFPF 767
-83.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.14
$3.73 CFPF 388
-79.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 ¥5.93
$3.30 CFPF 343
-73.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 ¥3.86
$2.88 CFPF 299
-80.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.63
$1.53 CFPF 160
-64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42 ¥23.17
$19.61 CFPF 2,041
-82.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.75 ¥79.5
$15.02 CFPF 1,563
-21.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥5.40
$5.19 CFPF 540
-84.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ¥10.95
$6.08 CFPF 632
-73.36%
🚌 Getting Around
China
New Caledonia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.94
$2.89 CFPF 301
-85.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.47 ¥139
$63.4 CFPF 6,598
-67.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.24
$5.40 CFPF 562
-74.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.39
$1.00 CFPF 104
-65.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 ¥43.97
$25.07 CFPF 2,608
-74.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥7.59
$1.69 CFPF 176
-33.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥131.8K
$34.0K CFPF 3.5M
-42.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥114.1K
$40.2K CFPF 4.2M
-58.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
New Caledonia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.7 ¥350
$206 CFPF 21.5K
-74.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.17 ¥68.8
$40.45 CFPF 4,208
-74.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.16 ¥75.5
$58.2 CFPF 6,054
-80.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
New Caledonia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.62 ¥268
$61.1 CFPF 6,352
-35.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.53 ¥98.3
$7.55 CFPF 785
92.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38 ¥43.19
$12.80 CFPF 1,331
-50.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
New Caledonia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$407 ¥2,756
$793 CFPF 82.5K
-48.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K ¥120.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
New Caledonia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.53 ¥308
$111 CFPF 11.6K
-59.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.31 ¥219
$57.7 CFPF 6,005
-44.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.6 ¥491
$92.7 CFPF 9,645
-21.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 ¥504
$243 CFPF 25.2K
-69.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
New Caledonia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 ¥2,996
$752 CFPF 78.2K
-41.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 ¥1,747
$777 CFPF 80.9K
-66.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ¥6,162
$1,576 CFPF 163.9K
-42.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,677
$1,359 CFPF 141.4K
-60.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,934 ¥33.4K
$4,769 CFPF 496.2K
3.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,398 ¥16.2K
$3,528 CFPF 367.1K
-32.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
New Caledonia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,065 ¥7,205
$2,756 CFPF 286.8K
-61.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
2.33
74.25%

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

Last update for China: July 13, 2026

Last update for New Caledonia: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $287 in China, $459 in New Caledonia. Capital cities: $894 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $805 in Noumea.

National salary averages: $855 in China, $2,814 in New Caledonia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 60% higher in New Caledonia.

Dining out costs 138% more in New Caledonia.

Public transport is 17% more expensive in New Caledonia.

Salaries are 229% higher in New Caledonia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in New Caledonia.

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 New Caledonia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or New Caledonia?
At $862 per month in China and $1,195 in New Caledonia, there's a 39% 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 New Caledonia?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in China: 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 New Caledonia?
Rent in New Caledonia is consistently higher than in China 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 New Caledonia?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in New Caledonia 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 New Caledonia?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; New Caledonia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries