Cost of Living Comparison Between Haikou and Dushanbe Cost of Living Comparison Between Haikou and Dushanbe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $804 per month in Haikou vs $944 in Dushanbe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Haikou vs $1,388 in Dushanbe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,468 per month in Haikou vs $1,833 in Dushanbe, rent included.

Haikou is about 15% cheaper than Dushanbe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Haikou and Dushanbe are more affordable than the global median – Haikou 41% lower, Dushanbe 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.37 ¥29.32

$5.39 TJS 49.85

-18.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.16 ¥102

$16.42 TJS 152

-7.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.03 ¥40.47

$5.44 TJS 50.3

10.85%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ¥16.09

$1.77 TJS 16.39

35.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥5.40

$0.60 TJS 5.54

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ¥2.46

$0.40 TJS 3.69

-7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.78

$1.10 TJS 10.19

32.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ¥18.07

$2.12 TJS 19.58

26.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ¥13.86

$1.06 TJS 9.77

95.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ¥9.75

$0.61 TJS 5.64

137.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 ¥4.60

$2.25 TJS 20.76

-69.33%

Eggs

$1.35 ¥9.07

$1.74 TJS 16.09

-22.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.64 TJS 89.1

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ¥26.21

$3.98 TJS 36.84

-1.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.82 ¥106

$11.50 TJS 106

37.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.31

$1.80 TJS 16.64

-6.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.24

$2.87 TJS 26.54

-67.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.33

$2.30 TJS 21.26

-52.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.08

$1.20 TJS 11.13

-24.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ¥5.55

$0.62 TJS 5.70

33.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.90

$0.37 TJS 3.41

97.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 ¥3.09

$0.88 TJS 8.13

-47.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.77

$0.59 TJS 5.42

-5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 ¥21.04

$4.46 TJS 41.24

-29.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 ¥59.5

$11.89 TJS 110

-25.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$1.58 TJS 14.65

-63.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ¥8.21

$2.13 TJS 19.67

-42.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ¥6.27

$0.28 TJS 2.60

232.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.8 ¥354

$33.13 TJS 306

59.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ¥14.89

$1.05 TJS 9.72

111.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ¥2.87

$0.31 TJS 2.91

38.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 TJS 59.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥8.27

$1.19 TJS 10.98

3.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.0K TJS 148.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.0K TJS 221.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$35.52 ¥238

$68.0 TJS 629

-47.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.40 ¥89.9

$10.05 TJS 93.0

33.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.29 ¥89.2

$16.95 TJS 157

-21.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.71 ¥300

$46.38 TJS 429

-3.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.17 ¥41.41

$14.36 TJS 133

-57.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.59 ¥30.79

$5.45 TJS 50.4

-15.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$865 ¥5,806

$81.9 TJS 758

955.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K ¥131.0K

$5,596 TJS 51.7K

248.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.31 ¥177

$24.33 TJS 225

8.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.56 ¥232

$52.0 TJS 481

-33.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.97 ¥295

$76.2 TJS 705

-42.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.48 ¥251

$56.2 TJS 520

-33.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$371 ¥2,489

$618 TJS 5,712

-39.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 ¥1,963

$349 TJS 3,226

-16.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ¥3,907

$897 TJS 8,297

-35.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 ¥2,422

$549 TJS 5,082

-34.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,200 ¥21.5K

$1,307 TJS 12.1K

144.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,158 ¥14.5K

$711 TJS 6,572

203.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$729 ¥4,892

$434 TJS 4,010

68.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.85

23.17

-83.38%

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

Last update for Haikou: August 31, 2026

Last update for Dushanbe: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $371 in Haikou versus $618 in Dushanbe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 68% higher in Haikou, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Haikou versus $16.00 in Dushanbe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $206 – making Haikou the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Haikou vs Dushanbe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Dushanbe is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,206 per month in Haikou and $1,416 in Dushanbe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Haikou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $865 per month in Haikou and $81.9 in Dushanbe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Dushanbe, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Haikou, where all-in costs run around $804, than in Dushanbe at $944. In Haikou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dushanbe it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Haikou – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Haikou. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dushanbe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.