Cost of Living Comparison Between Guangzhou (Canton) and Beijing (Pekin) Cost of Living Comparison Between Guangzhou (Canton) and Beijing (Pekin)

🙂 Solo nomad: Guangzhou (Canton) is 5.5% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin) without rent, and 16.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Guangzhou (Canton) is 8.3% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin) without rent, and 21.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.47
$4.08 ¥29.26
-30.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.47 ¥161
$27.3 ¥196
-17.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5 ¥35.9
$5.17 ¥37.06
-3.29%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ¥21.83
$3.09 ¥22.18
-1.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.5 ¥3.55
$0.45 ¥3.26
11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ¥2.32
$0.3 ¥2.17
6.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ¥7.08
$1.09 ¥7.8
-9.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 ¥12.26
$2.13 ¥15.27
-19.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 ¥14.26
$1.69 ¥12.1
17.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 ¥14.94
$1.64 ¥11.74
26.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ¥9.2
$1.07 ¥7.66
19.63%
Eggs
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.67 ¥12.01
-6.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.79 ¥135
$16.01 ¥115
17.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.66 ¥33.43
$3.19 ¥22.88
46.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.05 ¥101
$9.51 ¥68.2
47.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 ¥15.18
$2.07 ¥14.88
2.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 ¥9.08
$1.57 ¥11.28
-19.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 ¥14.15
$1.8 ¥12.93
9.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 ¥10.65
$1.29 ¥9.23
15.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.6
$0.84 ¥5.99
9.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.79
$0.91 ¥6.55
19.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ¥3.98
$0.67 ¥4.83
-16.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ¥4.63
$0.52 ¥3.74
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 ¥26.97
$3.45 ¥24.73
8.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$8.69 ¥62.3
-0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ¥6.76
$0.8 ¥5.73
17.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 ¥9.89
$1.75 ¥12.58
-21.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.9
$0.54 ¥3.85
-25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.55 ¥183
$31.25 ¥224
-18.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 ¥11.66
$1.78 ¥12.73
-8.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.67
$0.33 ¥2.36
12.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.29 ¥45.13
$10.64 ¥76.4
-40.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.07
$1.14 ¥8.19
-1.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ¥152.6K
$18.7K ¥134.5K
13.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K ¥141.4K
$15.6K ¥111.9K
26.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.4 ¥433
$52.2 ¥375
15.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.91 ¥92.6
$8.86 ¥63.6
45.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.46 ¥82.2
$12.53 ¥89.9
-8.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.3 ¥296
$48.38 ¥347
-14.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.04 ¥101
$18.48 ¥133
-24.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ¥46.07
$8.32 ¥59.7
-22.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$313 ¥2,242
$664 ¥4,766
-52.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ¥116K
$24K ¥172.3K
-32.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.46 ¥297
$61.3 ¥440
-32.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.6 ¥205
$35.24 ¥253
-18.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.7 ¥500
$79.9 ¥573
-12.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.7 ¥435
$101 ¥725
-40.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$498 ¥3,571
$892 ¥6,397
-44.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 ¥1,957
$451 ¥3,234
-39.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 ¥8,061
$1,946 ¥14K
-42.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$609 ¥4,372
$1,092 ¥7,836
-44.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,985 ¥64.4K
$14.7K ¥105.4K
-38.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,445 ¥24.7K
$6,282 ¥45.1K
-45.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guangzhou (Canton)
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,281 ¥9,187
$1,425 ¥10.2K
-10.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
3.64
12.09%

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

Last update for Guangzhou (Canton): October 29, 2025

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): October 28, 2025

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