Cost of Living Comparison Between China and ReunionCost of Living Comparison Between China and Reunion
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in China versus $956 in Reunion.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in China versus $1,457 in Reunion.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,550 in China versus $1,957 in Reunion.
🌍Living in China costs about 26% less than in Reunion on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: China 47% lower, Reunion 28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Reunion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86¥19.32
$17.72€15.52
-83.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.44¥158
$75.1€65.7
-68.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84¥32.70
$14.10€12.35
-65.67%
Cappuccino
$3.11¥21.03
$3.10€2.72
0.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44¥2.99
$3.86€3.38
-88.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.99
$2.92€2.55
-90.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98¥6.63
$4.55€3.98
-78.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥13.86
$4.61€4.04
-55.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Reunion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84¥12.45
$1.30€1.14
41.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥10.92
$3.12€2.73
-48.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93¥6.27
$2.16€1.89
-56.94%
Eggs
$1.63¥11.01
$4.72€4.13
-65.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.15¥88.8
$23.80€20.84
-44.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26¥22.06
$14.01€12.27
-76.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.62¥71.8
$23.41€20.50
-54.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80¥12.17
$2.89€2.53
-37.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30¥8.76
$2.11€1.85
-38.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46¥9.88
$2.86€2.51
-48.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20¥8.13
$3.18€2.79
-62.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76¥5.13
$2.54€2.22
-70.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88¥5.93
$2.19€1.91
-59.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57¥3.86
$1.58€1.38
-63.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.62
$1.26€1.11
-57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42¥23.14
$14.55€12.74
-76.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.75¥79.4
$8.94€7.83
31.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.39
$2.24€1.96
-64.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62¥10.94
$3.63€3.17
-55.37%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Reunion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43¥2.93
$2.37€2.08
-81.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.47¥138
$44.92€39.34
-54.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36¥9.22
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.39
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.50¥43.90
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12¥7.58
$2.16€1.89
-48.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥131.6K
$37.3K€32.7K
-47.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥113.9K
$32.0K€28.0K
-47.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Reunion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.7¥349
$114€99.9
-54.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.17¥68.7
$13.30€11.65
-23.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.16¥75.4
$53.3€46.68
-79.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Reunion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.62¥268
$35.71€31.28
10.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.53¥98.2
$13.70€12.00
6.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38¥43.12
$11.49€10.06
-44.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Reunion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407¥2,752
$85.8€75.1
374.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K¥120.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Reunion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.53¥308
$120€105
-61.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.31¥218
$37.93€33.22
-14.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6¥490
$118€103
-38.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4¥503
$136€119
-45.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Reunion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443¥2,992
$951€833
-53.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$258¥1,745
$693€607
-62.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910¥6,152
$1,589€1,391
-42.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$543¥3,672
$1,051€920
-48.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,934¥33.3K
$3,350€2,934
47.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,398¥16.2K
$3,044€2,666
-21.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Reunion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,065¥7,194
$2,145€1,879
-50.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
4
1.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for China: July 13, 2026
Last update for Reunion: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $287 in China, $506 in Reunion. Capital cities: $894 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $867 in Saint-Pierre.
💰National salary averages: $855 in China, $1,959 in Reunion. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 76% higher in Reunion.
⭐Dining out costs 81% more in Reunion.
⭐Public transport is 39% more expensive in Reunion.
⭐Salaries are 129% higher in Reunion, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Reunion.
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 Reunion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Reunion?
At $862 per month in China and $906 in Reunion, there's a 5% 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 Reunion?
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 Reunion?
Rent in Reunion 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 Reunion?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Reunion 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 Reunion?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; Reunion may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.