For one person, living is cheaper in China: $800 a month against $1,035 in Fiji, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Fiji and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,035 in Fiji versus $800 in China.
Fiji $1,035
China $800
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,708 in Fiji versus $1,266 in China.
Fiji $1,708
China $1,266
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,380 in Fiji versus $1,731 in China.
Fiji $2,380
China $1,731
🌍
Living in Fiji is roughly 29% more expensive than in China on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Fiji 24% lower, China 41% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Fiji
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16FJD 11.56
$2.92¥19.50
76.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.29FJD 90.2
$22.45¥150
79.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.91FJD 15.48
$5.33¥35.65
29.64%
Cappuccino
$2.94FJD 6.57
$3.04¥20.34
-3.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51FJD 3.39
$0.48¥3.23
214.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02FJD 2.27
$0.30¥2.02
240.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.07FJD 6.87
$1.07¥7.12
186.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26FJD 9.54
$2.26¥15.11
88.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fiji
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34FJD 3.00
$1.75¥11.70
-23.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70FJD 1.57
$1.62¥10.80
-56.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11FJD 2.49
$0.99¥6.63
12.12%
Eggs
$3.29FJD 7.37
$1.56¥10.44
110.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30FJD 20.81
$13.25¥88.6
-29.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.24FJD 20.68
$3.37¥22.50
174.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.94FJD 17.79
$11.39¥76.2
-30.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56FJD 5.74
$1.82¥12.19
40.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66FJD 5.97
$1.25¥8.34
112.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.32FJD 7.43
$1.55¥10.39
114.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85FJD 6.39
$1.28¥8.55
122.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23FJD 2.75
$0.71¥4.72
73.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18FJD 2.64
$0.86¥5.75
37.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02FJD 2.28
$0.65¥4.36
56.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81FJD 1.81
$0.59¥3.97
37.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.52FJD 21.32
$3.76¥25.14
153.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.28FJD 18.55
$11.76¥78.6
-29.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29FJD 5.14
$0.91¥6.11
151.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64FJD 8.15
$1.62¥10.86
124.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Fiji
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78FJD 1.74
$0.31¥2.10
151.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.41FJD 50.2
$22.75¥152
-1.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87FJD 1.94
$1.52¥10.17
-42.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45FJD 1.01
$0.37¥2.50
21.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.79FJD 19.67
$7.28¥48.66
20.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32FJD 2.96
$1.25¥8.38
5.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KFJD 54.1K
$19.4K¥129.7K
24.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KFJD 57.5K
$17.1K¥114.4K
50.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.0FJD 128
$55.5¥371
2.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.14FJD 31.66
$8.29¥55.4
70.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36FJD 45.58
$10.97¥73.3
85.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.65FJD 82.1
$40.38¥270
-9.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.10FJD 15.89
$14.76¥98.7
-51.90%
Cinema Ticket
$3.75FJD 8.40
$6.76¥45.18
-44.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fiji
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188FJD 420
$465¥3,108
-59.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.1KFJD 29.3K
$19.6K¥131.2K
-33.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.77FJD 62.2
$46.32¥310
-40.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89FJD 78.1
$36.30¥243
-3.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.2FJD 153
$76.3¥510
-10.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.5FJD 140
$78.8¥527
-20.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fiji
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919FJD 2,058
$396¥2,646
132.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$406FJD 908
$240¥1,604
69.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,016FJD 4,514
$822¥5,499
145.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$897FJD 2,007
$466¥3,116
92.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,191FJD 2,667
$4,544¥30.4K
-73.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$800FJD 1,792
$2,282¥15.3K
-64.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fiji
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$766FJD 1,716
$1,075¥7,188
-28.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.38
3.46
113.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fiji: October 18, 2026
Last update for China: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Fiji
$406 39.2%
China
$240 30% ↓ 40.9%$166
🛒Groceries & Markets
Fiji
$247 23.9%
China
$209 26.1% ↓ 15.6%$39
🍽Eating Out
Fiji
$131 12.7%
China
$89 11.1% ↓ 32.3%$42
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
$91 8.8%
China
$75 9.3% ↓ 18.3%$17
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
$87 8.4%
China
$107 13.4% ↑ 22.9%$20
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
$44 4.3%
China
$54 6.7% ↑ 22.1%$9.7
🚌Getting Around
Fiji
$29 2.8%
China
$27 3.4% ↓ 4.4%$1.3
🏠Accommodation & Living
Fiji
$897 37.7%
China
$466 26.9% ↓ 48%$431
🛒Groceries & Markets
Fiji
$574 24.1%
China
$480 27.7% ↓ 16.4%$94
🍽Eating Out
Fiji
$456 19.2%
China
$287 16.6% ↓ 37.2%$170
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fiji
$106 4.4%
China
$83 4.8% ↓ 21.4%$23
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Fiji
$193 8.1%
China
$238 13.7% ↑ 22.9%$44
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Fiji
$95 4%
China
$123 7.1% ↑ 28.5%$27
🚌Getting Around
Fiji
$59 2.5%
China
$55 3.2% ↓ 5.8%$3.4
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $347 in Fiji, $299 in China. Capital cities: $880 in Suva vs $945 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $676 in Fiji, $870 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 16% higher in Fiji.
⭐Dining out costs 14% more in Fiji.
⭐Public transport is 750% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 29% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.
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
Fiji vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Fiji?
At $800 per month in China and $1,035 in Fiji, there's a 29% 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 Fiji?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $347 in Fiji 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 Fiji?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Fiji 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 Fiji?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; Fiji may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.