Cost of Living Comparison Between Cyprus and ChinaCost of Living Comparison Between Cyprus and China
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,842 in Cyprus versus $720 in China.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,842 in Cyprus versus $1,148 in China.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,842 in Cyprus versus $1,576 in China.
🌍Living in Cyprus is roughly 156% more expensive than in China on average.
📊Cyprus (34% above) and China (48% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Cyprus: monthly costs span $1,402 to $2,782, compared to $468–$1,236 in China. City choice carries more weight in Cyprus.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cyprus
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.75€15.30
$2.93¥19.60
505.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8€60.1
$22.72¥152
207.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.02€7.78
$5.07¥33.95
77.91%
Cappuccino
$4.07€3.50
$2.94¥19.70
38.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.75
$0.48¥3.21
322.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06€0.91
$0.30¥2.02
253.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.55€3.92
$1.06¥7.10
329.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.66€4.88
$2.25¥15.07
151.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cyprus
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.92€1.65
$1.79¥11.99
7.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.99€1.72
$1.70¥11.35
17.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.91€2.51
$0.96¥6.45
203.13%
Eggs
$4.77€4.11
$1.61¥10.79
196.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.87€11.96
$13.60¥91.1
1.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92€7.69
$3.41¥22.84
161.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.00€12.06
$11.07¥74.2
26.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22€2.77
$1.81¥12.09
77.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.91
$1.30¥8.74
70.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48€2.14
$1.48¥9.91
67.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34€2.88
$1.30¥8.72
156.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$0.72¥4.82
138.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49€1.29
$0.94¥6.31
58.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94€0.81
$0.61¥4.08
54.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16€1.00
$0.56¥3.73
107.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77€4.97
$3.67¥24.58
57.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.04€6.93
$11.90¥79.7
-32.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.53
$0.83¥5.56
113.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66€2.30
$1.65¥11.08
61.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Cyprus
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.39€2.06
$0.29¥1.92
724.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.4€45.20
$22.61¥151
131.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.17€7.04
$1.45¥9.72
463.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.26€1.95
$0.34¥2.31
564.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.06€30.22
$7.27¥48.72
382.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68€1.45
$1.23¥8.26
36.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K€30.0K
$19.5K¥130.9K
78.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K€28.5K
$17.2K¥115.5K
91.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cyprus
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212€182
$55.5¥371
281.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.75€18.75
$8.51¥57.0
155.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.00€28.45
$10.81¥72.4
205.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cyprus
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.9€67.2
$40.02¥268
94.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.36€25.31
$14.80¥99.1
98.38%
Cinema Ticket
$11.54€9.94
$6.73¥45.09
71.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cyprus
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$520€448
$454¥3,042
14.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,726€7,522
$19.5K¥130.8K
-55.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cyprus
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.3€80.4
$44.95¥301
107.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1€44.91
$35.81¥240
45.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€90.3
$76.8¥514
36.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111€95.3
$77.3¥518
43.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cyprus
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,048€903
$385¥2,581
171.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$860€742
$242¥1,623
255.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925€1,659
$837¥5,603
130.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,573€1,356
$474¥3,177
231.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,924€3,383
$4,619¥30.9K
-15.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,692€2,321
$2,316¥15.5K
16.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cyprus
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,928€1,662
$1,062¥7,110
81.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.02
3.47
15.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cyprus: September 7, 2026
Last update for China: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $885 in Cyprus, $295 in China. Capital cities: $829 in Nicosia vs $957 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $1,596 in Cyprus, $865 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 200% higher in Cyprus.
⭐Dining out costs 195% more in Cyprus.
⭐Public transport is 200% more expensive in Cyprus.
⭐Salaries are 85% higher in Cyprus, 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
Cyprus vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Cyprus?
At $852 per month in China and $2,092 in Cyprus, there's a 146% 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 Cyprus?
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 Cyprus?
Rent in Cyprus 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 Cyprus?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Cyprus 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 Cyprus?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; Cyprus may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.