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.
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
No currencies found
🍽 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.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
French Guiana
$863 36.7%
China
$235 29.6% ↓ 72.8%$629
🛒Groceries & Markets
French Guiana
$612 26.1%
China
$210 26.5% ↓ 65.7%$402
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Guiana
$337 14.4%
China
$74 9.4% ↓ 77.9%$263
🍽Eating Out
French Guiana
$237 10.1%
China
$88 11.1% ↓ 62.9%$149
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
French Guiana
$177 7.5%
China
$108 13.6% ↓ 39.2%$69
🚌Getting Around
French Guiana
$69 2.9%
China
$22 2.8% ↓ 67.5%$46
🎉Sport & Entertainment
French Guiana
$54 2.3%
China
$54 6.9% ↓ 0%$0
🏠Accommodation & Living
French Guiana
$1.8K 33.5%
China
$453 26.5% ↓ 74.6%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
French Guiana
$1.5K 27.5%
China
$483 28.3% ↓ 66.9%$978
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
French Guiana
$382 7.2%
China
$83 4.9% ↓ 78.2%$299
🍽Eating Out
French Guiana
$1K 19.2%
China
$284 16.6% ↓ 72.3%$739
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
French Guiana
$394 7.4%
China
$239 14% ↓ 39.2%$154
🚌Getting Around
French Guiana
$142 2.7%
China
$45 2.6% ↓ 68.1%$97
🎉Sport & Entertainment
French Guiana
$137 2.6%
China
$123 7.2% ↓ 10%$14
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.
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