Cost of Living Comparison Between Guam and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Guam and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,302 in Guam versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,807 in Guam versus $1,131 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,312 in Guam versus $1,550 in China.

Living in Guam is roughly 83% more expensive than China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Guam 3% lower, China 47% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Guam: monthly costs span $0 to $3,293, compared to $532โ€“$1,187 in China. City choice carries more weight in Guam.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Guam
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.03 $20.03
$2.75 ยฅ18.80
628.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.2 $78.2
$24.07 ยฅ165
224.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.18 $12.18
$4.84 ยฅ33.11
151.65%
Cappuccino
$5.62 $5.62
$2.97 ยฅ20.29
89.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 $1.84
$0.45 ยฅ3.05
308.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$0.29 ยฅ2.00
431.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 $5.54
$1.00 ยฅ6.85
454.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 $7.10
$2.06 ยฅ14.11
244.66%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Guam
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.82 ยฅ12.46
87.36%
White Bread (500g)
$6.03 $6.03
$1.62 ยฅ11.07
272.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$0.91 ยฅ6.20
448.35%
Eggs
$6.04 $6.04
$1.54 ยฅ10.55
292.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.30 $26.30
$13.32 ยฅ91.1
97.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 $9.74
$3.27 ยฅ22.38
197.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.96 $19.96
$10.56 ยฅ72.2
89.02%
Apples (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$1.76 ยฅ12.01
360.80%
Banana (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.30 ยฅ8.91
146.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.88 $7.88
$1.45 ยฅ9.93
443.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$1.19 ยฅ8.16
466.39%
Potato (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$0.71 ยฅ4.83
432.39%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$0.91 ยฅ6.23
261.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.44 $3.44
$0.57 ยฅ3.89
503.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$0.53 ยฅ3.65
333.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.35 $9.35
$3.50 ยฅ23.97
167.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.79 $11.79
$11.85 ยฅ81.1
-0.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$0.84 ยฅ5.72
165.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.68 ยฅ11.49
39.29%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Guam
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.44 ยฅ3.00
531.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 $54.9
$20.76 ยฅ142
164.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$20.07 $20.07
$1.36 ยฅ9.28
1375.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.35 ยฅ2.43
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.91 $31.91
$6.65 ยฅ45.47
379.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.17 ยฅ7.99
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$19.1K ยฅ130.8K
49.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$17.1K ยฅ117.2K
76.09%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guam
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$374 $374
$52.0 ยฅ355
619.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$85.3 $85.3
$9.65 ยฅ66.0
784.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$105 $105
$11.16 ยฅ76.3
839.61%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Guam
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$92.5 $92.5
$40.48 ยฅ277
128.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.87 $25.87
$14.75 ยฅ101
75.39%
Cinema Ticket
$13.55 $13.55
$6.35 ยฅ43.45
113.39%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Guam
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 $551
$410 ยฅ2,803
34.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.9K $28.9K
$17.8K ยฅ121.8K
62.48%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Guam
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 $71.9
$46.08 ยฅ315
56.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.4 $64.4
$32.86 ยฅ225
95.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 $96.2
$71.2 ยฅ487
35.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141 $141
$75.3 ยฅ515
87.88%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Guam
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,959 $1,959
$430 ยฅ2,942
355.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,497 $1,497
$261 ยฅ1,784
473.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,927 $2,927
$914 ยฅ6,254
220.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,549 $2,549
$542 ยฅ3,711
369.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$5,177 ยฅ35.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$304 $304
$2,630 ยฅ18.0K
-88.46%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Guam
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,629 $4,629
$1,060 ยฅ7,250
336.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
4.06
3.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Guam: April 22, 2026

Last update for China: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $950 in Guam, $287 in China. Capital cities: $1,836 in Hagatna vs $891 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $4,889 in Guam, $833 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money โ€“ weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 231% higher in Guam.

Dining out costs 57% more in Guam.

Public transport is 350% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 487% higher in Guam, giving Guam stronger purchasing power.

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
Guam vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Guam?
At $860 per month in China and $1,647 in Guam, there's a 92% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city โ€“ the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or Guam?
China is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Guam?
Rent in Guam beats 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 vs Guam?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Guam, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital โ€“ you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in China and Guam?
It depends on what you're after. China wins on affordability; Guam may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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