Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between French Guiana and China

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $2,350 in French Guiana, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

French Guiana
China
🇬🇫 French Guiana
$2,350
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$791
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in French Guiana and in China

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in French Guiana and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,350 in French Guiana versus $791 in China.

  • French Guiana $2,350
  • China $791

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,835 in French Guiana versus $1,251 in China.

  • French Guiana $3,835
  • China $1,251

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,320 in French Guiana versus $1,711 in China.

  • French Guiana $5,320
  • China $1,711

Internal cost variation is higher in French Guiana: monthly costs span $175 to $2,355, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in French Guiana.

Living in French Guiana is roughly 197% more expensive than in China on average.

French Guiana (73% above) and China (42% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
French Guiana
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.08 €11.72
$2.98 ¥19.81
338.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 €98.9
$22.09 ¥147
400.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 €9.49
$5.20 ¥34.60
103.85%
Cappuccino
$3.92 €3.51
$2.97 ¥19.74
31.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 €3.03
$0.48 ¥3.19
604.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 €2.57
$0.30 ¥2.01
856.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.99 €3.58
$1.08 ¥7.18
269.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 €4.02
$2.28 ¥15.15
96.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
French Guiana
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.02 €3.60
$1.80 ¥11.96
123.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.05 €3.62
$1.68 ¥11.15
141.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.92 €2.62
$0.92 ¥6.13
217.39%
Eggs
$7.34 €6.57
$1.61 ¥10.73
355.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$30.89 €27.67
$13.38 ¥89.0
130.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.55 €14.83
$3.35 ¥22.28
394.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$29.95 €26.82
$11.35 ¥75.5
163.88%
Apples (1kg)
$5.14 €4.60
$1.82 ¥12.12
182.42%
Banana (1kg)
$4.46 €3.99
$1.31 ¥8.69
240.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.14 €4.60
$1.49 ¥9.89
244.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$9.52 €8.53
$1.27 ¥8.47
649.61%
Potato (1kg)
$4.92 €4.41
$0.71 ¥4.73
592.96%
Onion (1kg)
$6.86 €6.15
$0.93 ¥6.21
637.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.31 €2.97
$0.62 ¥4.12
433.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.86
$0.56 ¥3.74
269.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62 €8.62
$3.78 ¥25.15
154.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.65 €9.54
$12.13 ¥80.7
-12.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88 €2.58
$0.83 ¥5.54
246.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 €1.02
$1.68 ¥11.21
-32.14%
🚌 Getting Around
French Guiana
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.20 €1.97
$0.29 ¥1.91
658.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.19 €30.62
$17.83 ¥119
91.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 €5.09
$1.49 ¥9.89
281.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.01 €3.59
$0.37 ¥2.49
983.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.98 €7.14
$7.10 ¥47.23
12.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.18 €1.95
$1.26 ¥8.37
73.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.5K €40.8K
$19.4K ¥129.4K
134.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K €39.9K
$17.5K ¥116.7K
154.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Guiana
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 €201
$54.6 ¥363
310.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.71 €40.05
$8.73 ¥58.1
412.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.2 €61.1
$11.07 ¥73.6
515.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
French Guiana
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.78 €32.05
$40.77 ¥271
-12.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.17 €25.23
$14.48 ¥96.4
94.54%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27 €8.30
$6.78 ¥45.12
36.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
French Guiana
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 €595
$517 ¥3,437
28.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K €9,222
$19.8K ¥131.8K
-48.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
French Guiana
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100 €89.9
$46.53 ¥310
115.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.3 €60.3
$35.66 ¥237
88.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 €113
$77.0 ¥512
63.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9 €89.5
$80.3 ¥534
24.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
French Guiana
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,098 €984
$386 ¥2,567
184.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$863 €773
$235 ¥1,561
268.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,817 €1,628
$822 ¥5,469
121.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,783 €1,597
$453 ¥3,015
293.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,091 €2,769
$4,697 ¥31.3K
-34.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,426 €3,068
$2,372 ¥15.8K
44.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
French Guiana
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,218 €1,986
$1,093 ¥7,274
102.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
3.46
30.06%

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

Last update for French Guiana: October 24, 2026

Last update for China: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
French Guiana
$863
China
$235 72.8% $629
Groceries & Markets
French Guiana
$612
China
$210 65.7% $402
Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Guiana
$337
China
$74 77.9% $263
Eating Out
French Guiana
$237
China
$88 62.9% $149
Clothing & Footwear
French Guiana
$177
China
$108 39.2% $69
Getting Around
French Guiana
$69
China
$22 67.5% $46
Sport & Entertainment
French Guiana
$54
China
$54 0% $0

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,192 in French Guiana, $298 in China. Capital cities: $933 in Cayenne vs $933 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $2,255 in French Guiana, $873 in China. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 300% higher in French Guiana.

Dining out costs 418% more in French Guiana.

Public transport is 89% more expensive in French Guiana.

Salaries are about 2.6 times higher in French Guiana, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

Good to know
🇬🇫 French Guiana
🇨🇳 China
🕒 Local time
00:45 12:45 AM
11:45 11:45 AM
11 h ahead of French Guiana
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
288,382
1,442,965,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.43 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • French Guiana China 14,900 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • French Guiana
  • 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
French Guiana vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or French Guiana?
At $791 per month in China and $2,350 in French Guiana, China comes out about 66% cheaper. 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 cheaper in China: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $1,192 in French Guiana and $298 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 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, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.

French Guiana vs other spots: cost of living compared

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