Cost of Living Comparison Between French Guiana and China Cost of Living Comparison Between French Guiana and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in French Guiana versus $719 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in French Guiana versus $1,147 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,987 in French Guiana versus $1,574 in China.

Living in French Guiana is roughly 20% more expensive than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: French Guiana 37% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
French Guiana
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.17 €11.41
$2.92 ¥19.59
351.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$116 €100
$22.23 ¥149
420.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.06 €9.58
$5.13 ¥34.36
115.59%
Cappuccino
$3.95 €3.42
$2.99 ¥20.04
32.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 €3.11
$0.52 ¥3.50
590.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 €2.65
$0.28 ¥1.87
992.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.82 €3.31
$1.05 ¥7.05
263.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 €4.08
$2.26 ¥15.18
108.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
French Guiana
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.17 €2.75
$1.81 ¥12.12
75.14%
White Bread (500g)
$4.16 €3.60
$1.68 ¥11.24
147.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.00 €2.60
$0.90 ¥6.05
233.33%
Eggs
$7.89 €6.84
$1.56 ¥10.44
405.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$28.86 €25.01
$13.24 ¥88.7
117.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.64 €14.42
$3.49 ¥23.41
376.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$33.65 €29.16
$11.23 ¥75.2
199.64%
Apples (1kg)
$5.19 €4.50
$1.86 ¥12.44
179.03%
Banana (1kg)
$4.59 €3.98
$1.26 ¥8.47
264.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.92 €5.13
$1.53 ¥10.23
286.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$9.90 €8.58
$1.26 ¥8.46
685.71%
Potato (1kg)
$4.87 €4.22
$0.73 ¥4.92
567.12%
Onion (1kg)
$6.79 €5.89
$0.88 ¥5.89
671.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.56 €3.09
$0.65 ¥4.34
447.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 €1.70
$0.58 ¥3.89
237.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.33 €8.09
$3.71 ¥24.85
151.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.12 €7.04
$11.80 ¥79.1
-31.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 €2.34
$0.85 ¥5.69
217.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.98
$1.67 ¥11.20
36.53%
🚌 Getting Around
French Guiana
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.04
$0.29 ¥1.93
713.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.43 €29.83
$22.67 ¥152
51.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.68 €4.93
$1.50 ¥10.07
278.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.12 €3.57
$0.35 ¥2.32
1077.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 €7.04
$7.29 ¥48.86
11.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €1.98
$1.22 ¥8.18
86.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.1K €39.9K
$19.0K ¥127.3K
142.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.5K €39.5K
$17.4K ¥116.3K
162.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Guiana
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 €195
$54.0 ¥362
316.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.83 €40.58
$8.41 ¥56.4
456.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.7 €61.2
$10.82 ¥72.5
553.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
French Guiana
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.45 €37.65
$40.41 ¥271
7.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.64 €24.82
$14.63 ¥98.0
95.76%
Cinema Ticket
$10.58 €9.17
$6.60 ¥44.20
60.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
French Guiana
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 €597
$452 ¥3,026
52.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K €9,143
$19.2K ¥128.9K
-45.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
French Guiana
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 €91.8
$44.23 ¥296
139.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 €60.6
$35.46 ¥238
97.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 €113
$74.7 ¥501
74.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 €89.2
$78.6 ¥527
30.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
French Guiana
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,132 €981
$394 ¥2,643
186.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$886 €768
$243 ¥1,631
264.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,554 €1,347
$845 ¥5,663
83.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,850 €1,603
$481 ¥3,223
284.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,159 €2,738
$4,609 ¥30.9K
-31.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,600 €3,119
$2,327 ¥15.6K
54.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
French Guiana
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,330 €2,019
$1,060 ¥7,103
119.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
3.47
29.68%

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

Last update for French Guiana: September 13, 2026

Last update for China: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $779 in French Guiana, $294 in China. Capital cities: $879 in Cayenne vs $985 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $2,287 in French Guiana, $867 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 165% higher in French Guiana.

Dining out costs 86% more in French Guiana.

Public transport is 42% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 164% higher in French Guiana, and purchasing power comes out stronger in French Guiana.

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
French Guiana vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or French Guiana?
At $837 per month in China and $1,211 in French Guiana, there's a 45% 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 French Guiana?
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 French Guiana?
Rent in French Guiana 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 French Guiana?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in French Guiana 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 French Guiana?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; French Guiana may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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