Cost of Living Comparison Between Jordan and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Jordan and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $651 in Jordan versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Jordan versus $1,132 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,433 in Jordan versus $1,551 in China.

Living in Jordan costs about 9% less than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Jordan 51% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jordan
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.25 JOD 4.42
$2.81 ¥18.98
122.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.25 JOD 29.90
$23.30 ¥158
81.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.86 JOD 4.86
$5.01 ¥33.87
36.93%
Cappuccino
$3.55 JOD 2.52
$3.01 ¥20.38
17.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 JOD 0.35
$0.45 ¥3.03
8.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 JOD 0.25
$0.29 ¥1.97
20.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.47 JOD 3.87
$0.95 ¥6.41
475.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.16 JOD 5.06
$2.05 ¥13.87
249.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jordan
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 JOD 1.01
$1.76 ¥11.87
-18.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 JOD 0.34
$1.62 ¥10.98
-70.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 JOD 1.20
$0.95 ¥6.45
77.89%
Eggs
$2.09 JOD 1.48
$1.56 ¥10.55
33.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.41 JOD 4.53
$13.06 ¥88.3
-50.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.78 JOD 4.09
$3.28 ¥22.17
76.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 JOD 7.88
$10.65 ¥72.0
4.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 JOD 1.25
$1.78 ¥12.03
-0.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 JOD 1.09
$1.24 ¥8.42
23.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 JOD 0.98
$1.50 ¥10.12
-7.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 JOD 0.52
$1.15 ¥7.79
-35.65%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 JOD 0.59
$0.75 ¥5.07
12.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 JOD 0.49
$0.86 ¥5.81
-18.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 JOD 0.42
$0.62 ¥4.17
-3.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 JOD 0.40
$0.56 ¥3.81
1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.60 JOD 2.55
$3.51 ¥23.76
2.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 JOD 12.92
$11.66 ¥78.9
56.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.95 JOD 3.51
$0.80 ¥5.40
518.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64 JOD 3.99
$1.66 ¥11.25
239.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Jordan
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 JOD 0.53
$0.43 ¥2.93
74.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.93 JOD 29.67
$20.86 ¥141
101.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 JOD 0.48
$1.37 ¥9.26
-50.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 JOD 1.03
$0.35 ¥2.38
314.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.12 JOD 5.04
$6.63 ¥44.82
7.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 JOD 1.02
$1.14 ¥7.69
26.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K JOD 20.4K
$19.2K ¥129.7K
49.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K JOD 22.6K
$16.8K ¥113.4K
90.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jordan
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.3 JOD 69.5
$51.2 ¥346
92.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.97 JOD 11.30
$10.16 ¥68.7
57.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.18 JOD 21.36
$11.51 ¥77.9
162.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jordan
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.47 JOD 32.89
$40.53 ¥274
14.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.67 JOD 26.66
$15.05 ¥102
150.30%
Cinema Ticket
$11.46 JOD 8.11
$6.10 ¥41.26
87.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jordan
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 JOD 143
$402 ¥2,719
-49.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,925 JOD 3,485
$17.7K ¥119.5K
-72.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jordan
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9 JOD 37.44
$45.57 ¥308
16.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 JOD 36.96
$33.26 ¥225
57.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 JOD 70.9
$72.6 ¥491
38.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 JOD 50.3
$74.5 ¥503
-4.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jordan
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 JOD 244
$429 ¥2,903
-19.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 JOD 163
$257 ¥1,739
-10.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$617 JOD 437
$895 ¥6,055
-31.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$420 JOD 297
$541 ¥3,660
-22.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,204 JOD 852
$5,015 ¥33.9K
-76.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$801 JOD 567
$2,469 ¥16.7K
-67.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jordan
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$709 JOD 502
$1,055 ¥7,132
-32.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.55
4.06
85.96%

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

Last update for Jordan: May 31, 2026

Last update for China: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $170 in Jordan, $286 in China. Capital cities: $469 in Amman vs $916 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $646 in Jordan, $861 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 68% higher in China.

Dining out costs 67% more in Jordan.

Public transport is 125% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 33% higher in China, giving China 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
Jordan vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Jordan?
At $865 per month in China and $562 in Jordan, there's a 54% gap. 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 Jordan?
Jordan 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 Jordan?
Rent in China beats Jordan 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 Jordan?
In Jordan, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In China, it works in regional areas but 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 Jordan?
It depends on what you're after. Jordan wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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