Cost of Living Comparison Between China and South Sudan Cost of Living Comparison Between China and South Sudan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in China versus $3,282 in South Sudan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in China versus $2,889 in South Sudan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,550 in China versus $2,495 in South Sudan.

Living in China costs about 78% less than in South Sudan on average.

China (47% below) and South Sudan (146% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $532 to $1,192, compared to $3,282$3,282 in South Sudan. City choice carries more weight in China.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
South Sudan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 ¥19.32
$5.06 SSP 14.2K
-43.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.44 ¥158
$48.09 SSP 135.4K
-51.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 ¥32.70
$6.87 SSP 19.3K
-29.55%
Cappuccino
$3.11 ¥21.03
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.99
$0.98 SSP 2,765
-55.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.99
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ¥6.63
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ¥13.86
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
South Sudan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 ¥12.45
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥10.92
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.27
-
-
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.01
$2.07 SSP 5,839
-21.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.15 ¥88.8
$7.14 SSP 20.1K
84.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.26 ¥22.06
$5.47 SSP 15.4K
-40.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.62 ¥71.8
$11.66 SSP 32.8K
-8.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.17
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.76
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 ¥9.88
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 ¥8.13
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.13
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 ¥5.93
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 ¥3.86
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.62
$0.52 SSP 1,470
3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42 ¥23.14
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.75 ¥79.4
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥5.39
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ¥10.94
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
China
South Sudan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.93
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.47 ¥138
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.22
$6.93 SSP 19.5K
-80.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.39
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 ¥43.90
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥7.58
$1.47 SSP 4,127
-23.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥131.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥113.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
South Sudan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.7 ¥349
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.17 ¥68.7
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.16 ¥75.4
$101 SSP 283.6K
-88.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
South Sudan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.62 ¥268
$344 SSP 969.6K
-88.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.53 ¥98.2
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.38 ¥43.12
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
South Sudan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$407 ¥2,752
$839 SSP 2.4M
-51.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K ¥120.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
South Sudan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.53 ¥308
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.31 ¥218
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.6 ¥490
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 ¥503
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
South Sudan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 ¥2,992
$3,440 SSP 9.7M
-87.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 ¥1,745
$2,663 SSP 7.5M
-90.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$910 ¥6,152
$12.0K SSP 33.7M
-92.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,672
$1,282 SSP 3.6M
-57.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,934 ¥33.3K
$1,083 SSP 3.0M
355.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,398 ¥16.2K
$592 SSP 1.7M
304.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
South Sudan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,065 ¥7,194
$2,002 SSP 5.6M
-46.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
8.85
-54.12%

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

Last update for China: July 13, 2026

Last update for South Sudan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $287 in China, $3,532 in South Sudan. Capital cities: $894 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $3,532 in Juba.

National salary averages: $855 in China, $1,764 in South Sudan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1131% higher in South Sudan.

Dining out costs 124% more in South Sudan.

Salaries are 106% higher in South Sudan, 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 South Sudan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or South Sudan?
At $862 per month in China and $3,282 in South Sudan, there's a 281% 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 South Sudan?
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 South Sudan?
Rent in South Sudan 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 South Sudan?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in South Sudan 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 South Sudan?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; South Sudan may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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