Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and the Turks and Caicos Islands

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $800 a month against $3,522 in the Turks and Caicos Islands, rent and utilities included – about $32,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇨🇳 China
$800
/mo nomad
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands
$3,522
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in China and in the Turks and Caicos Islands

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 the Turks and Caicos Islands actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $800 in China versus $3,522 in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

  • China $800
  • Turks and Caicos Islands $3,522

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,266 in China versus $6,038 in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

  • China $1,266
  • Turks and Caicos Islands $6,038

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,731 in China versus $8,554 in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

  • China $1,731
  • Turks and Caicos Islands $8,554

Living in China costs about 77% less than in the Turks and Caicos Islands on average.

China (41% below) and the Turks and Caicos Islands (160% above) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.92 ¥19.50
$18.70 $18.70
-84.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.45 ¥150
$120 $120
-81.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.33 ¥35.65
$11.19 $11.19
-52.37%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ¥20.34
$6.07 $6.07
-49.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.23
$2.98 $2.98
-83.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.02
$2.80 $2.80
-89.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 ¥7.12
$4.93 $4.93
-78.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ¥15.11
$6.94 $6.94
-67.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥11.70
$4.80 $4.80
-63.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ¥10.80
$4.74 $4.74
-65.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.63
$5.12 $5.12
-80.66%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥10.44
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥88.6
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.37 ¥22.50
$20.03 $20.03
-83.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.39 ¥76.2
$17.95 $17.95
-36.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥12.19
$4.10 $4.10
-55.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.34
$2.36 $2.36
-47.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 ¥10.39
$2.52 $2.52
-38.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 ¥8.55
$6.76 $6.76
-81.07%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ¥4.72
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥5.75
$2.05 $2.05
-58.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ¥4.36
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥3.97
$3.59 $3.59
-83.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 ¥25.14
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.76 ¥78.6
$19.84 $19.84
-40.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 ¥6.11
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ¥10.86
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.10
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.75 ¥152
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 ¥10.17
$3.01 $3.01
-49.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.50
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.28 ¥48.66
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ¥8.38
$1.98 $1.98
-36.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K ¥129.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K ¥114.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.5 ¥371
$406 $406
-86.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.29 ¥55.4
$68.4 $68.4
-87.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.97 ¥73.3
$140 $140
-92.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.38 ¥270
$99.2 $99.2
-59.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.76 ¥98.7
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 ¥45.18
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 ¥3,108
$496 $496
-6.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K ¥131.2K
$12.8K $12.8K
53.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.32 ¥310
$81.1 $81.1
-42.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.30 ¥243
$59.7 $59.7
-39.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.3 ¥510
$150 $150
-49.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 ¥527
$98.9 $98.9
-20.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$396 ¥2,646
$1,802 $1,802
-78.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 ¥1,604
$1,876 $1,876
-87.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 ¥5,499
$4,805 $4,805
-82.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$466 ¥3,116
$5,041 $5,041
-90.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,544 ¥30.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,282 ¥15.3K
$2,133 $2,133
6.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Turks and Caicos Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,075 ¥7,188
$4,334 $4,334
-75.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
7
-50.57%

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

Last update for China: October 19, 2026

Last update for the Turks and Caicos Islands: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
China
$240
Turks and Caicos Islands
$1.9K 682% $1.6K
Groceries & Markets
China
$209
Turks and Caicos Islands
$435 * 109% $227
Clothing & Footwear
China
$107
Turks and Caicos Islands
$175 64.1% $69
Eating Out
China
$89
Turks and Caicos Islands
$318 258% $229
Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$75
Turks and Caicos Islands
$615 723% $540
Sport & Entertainment
China
$54
Turks and Caicos Islands
$99 * 84.1% $45
Getting Around
China
$27
Turks and Caicos Islands
$3 * 89% $24

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

National salary averages: $870 in China, $5,215 in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 51% higher in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Dining out costs 48% more in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Salaries are 499% higher in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Good to know
🇨🇳 China
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands
🕒 Local time
13:21 1:21 PM
01:21 1:21 AM
12 h behind China
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,442,965,000
44,542
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • China Turks and Caicos Islands 13,150 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • China
  • Turks and Caicos Islands

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 Turks and Caicos Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or the Turks and Caicos Islands?
At $800 per month in China and $3,522 in the Turks and Caicos Islands, there's a 340% 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 the Turks and Caicos Islands?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $450 in the Turks and Caicos Islands and $299 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $2,000 go in China compared to the Turks and Caicos Islands?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in the Turks and Caicos Islands 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 the Turks and Caicos Islands?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; the Turks and Caicos Islands may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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