Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kunming, Yunnan and Beijing (Pekin)

For one person, living is cheaper in Kunming, Yunnan: $779 a month against $1,197 in Beijing (Pekin), rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

37

Cost of Living Index in Kunming, Yunnan
Learn more

Kunming, Yunnan Living Index
57

Cost of Living Index in Beijing (Pekin)
Learn more

Beijing (Pekin) Living Index

Jump to prices

Kunming, Yunnan

🇨🇳 China

$779

/mo nomad

Beijing (Pekin)

🇨🇳 China

$1,197

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kunming, Yunnan and in Beijing (Pekin)

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kunming, Yunnan and in Beijing (Pekin) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $779 per month in Kunming, Yunnan vs $1,197 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

Kunming, Yunnan $779
Beijing (Pekin) $1,197

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Kunming, Yunnan vs $1,913 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

Kunming, Yunnan $1,223
Beijing (Pekin) $1,913

A family of three spends $1,668 per month in Kunming, Yunnan vs $2,630 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

Kunming, Yunnan $1,668
Beijing (Pekin) $2,630

Kunming, Yunnan is about 35% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kunming, Yunnan and Beijing (Pekin) are more affordable than the global median – Kunming, Yunnan 43% lower, Beijing (Pekin) 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.31 ¥15.34

$4.42 ¥29.39

-47.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.51 ¥150

$29.66 ¥197

-24.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 ¥42.87

$5.37 ¥35.76

19.93%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ¥19.72

$3.73 ¥24.81

-20.64%

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

$0.47 ¥3.16

$0.56 ¥3.71

-16.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ¥2.07

$0.29 ¥1.94

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.69

$1.19 ¥7.91

22.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 ¥14.72

$1.73 ¥11.54

27.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ¥11.80

$1.72 ¥11.42

2.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 ¥11.46

$1.77 ¥11.80

-2.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.86

$1.29 ¥8.62

14.73%

Eggs

$1.60 ¥10.65

$1.91 ¥12.74

-16.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.46 ¥49.66

$14.70 ¥97.8

-49.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 ¥30.31

$3.22 ¥21.46

41.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 ¥78.7

$11.23 ¥74.7

5.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 ¥9.52

$2.13 ¥14.15

-32.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.32

$1.79 ¥11.88

-38.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 ¥10.51

$2.05 ¥13.62

-22.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 ¥7.89

$1.53 ¥10.19

-22.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 ¥2.38

$0.74 ¥4.89

-51.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.25

$0.92 ¥6.15

2.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 ¥11.16

$0.69 ¥4.60

143.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ¥4.42

$0.61 ¥4.04

8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 ¥20.09

$4.44 ¥29.57

-31.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.69 ¥44.53

$14.00 ¥93.2

-52.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.24

$1.03 ¥6.84

-23.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ¥9.98

$1.80 ¥12.01

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ¥5.15

$0.59 ¥3.89

30.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.68 ¥198

$32.53 ¥216

-8.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 ¥10.25

$2.00 ¥13.33

-23.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ¥2.08

$0.33 ¥2.19

-6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.83 ¥98.7

$7.68 ¥51.1

93.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥8.24

$1.30 ¥8.64

-4.62%

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

$20.6K ¥136.8K

$19.7K ¥131.3K

4.16%

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

$17.3K ¥115.3K

$18.0K ¥119.8K

-3.79%

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

$55.4 ¥369

$58.8 ¥392

-5.78%

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

$14.85 ¥98.8

$8.71 ¥58.0

70.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ¥116

$14.51 ¥96.6

20.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ¥282

$46.71 ¥311

-9.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.14 ¥167

$24.48 ¥163

2.70%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ¥39.51

$7.60 ¥50.6

-21.84%

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

$351 ¥2,338

$985 ¥6,555

-64.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ¥92.7K

$24.5K ¥163.1K

-43.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.9 ¥472

$72.1 ¥480

-1.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.9 ¥346

$40.22 ¥268

29.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.2 ¥507

$86.8 ¥577

-12.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ¥738

$126 ¥839

-12.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 ¥1,594

$933 ¥6,209

-74.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 ¥1,206

$530 ¥3,523

-65.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 ¥3,610

$2,279 ¥15.2K

-76.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ¥2,132

$1,096 ¥7,292

-70.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,120 ¥20.8K

$11.8K ¥78.6K

-73.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,333 ¥8,868

$6,566 ¥43.7K

-79.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$859 ¥5,714

$1,707 ¥11.4K

-49.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

3.12

15.38%

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

Last update for Kunming, Yunnan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Kunming, Yunnan

$192 24.6%

Beijing (Pekin)

$230 19.2% 19.7% $38

Accommodation & Living

Kunming, Yunnan

$181 23.3%

Beijing (Pekin)

$530 44.2% 192% $348

Clothing & Footwear

Kunming, Yunnan

$139 17.9%

Beijing (Pekin)

$146 12.2% 4.9% $6.8

Eating Out

Kunming, Yunnan

$88 11.3%

Beijing (Pekin)

$109 9.1% 23.6% $21

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kunming, Yunnan

$88 11.3%

Beijing (Pekin)

$82 6.9% 6.4% $5.6

Sport & Entertainment

Kunming, Yunnan

$54 7%

Beijing (Pekin)

$62 5.2% 14.3% $7.7

Getting Around

Kunming, Yunnan

$36 4.6%

Beijing (Pekin)

$39 3.2% 7.4% $2.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Kunming, Yunnan versus $933 in Beijing (Pekin). 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 99% higher in Beijing (Pekin). Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Kunming, Yunnan versus $30 in Beijing (Pekin). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $230 – making Kunming, Yunnan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇳 Kunming, Yunnan

🇨🇳 Beijing (Pekin)

🕒 Local time

00:46 12:46 AM

Same time as Kunming, Yunnan

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

3,583,000

21,893,095 Capital

💱 Currency

Chinese Yuan CNY ¥

📈 Exchange rate

1 CNY = 0.15 USD

1 CNY = 0.135 EUR

1 CNY = 0.15 USD

1 CNY = 0.135 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Kunming, Yunnan Beijing (Pekin) 2,090 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight

From you

Kunming, Yunnan
Beijing (Pekin)

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

Kunming, Yunnan vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 54%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,168 per month in Kunming, Yunnan and $1,796 in Beijing (Pekin). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kunming, Yunnan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $240 there versus $933 in Beijing (Pekin).

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23 in Kunming, Yunnan and $30 in Beijing (Pekin). That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $779 in Kunming, Yunnan and $1,197 in Beijing (Pekin). That makes Kunming, Yunnan about 35% cheaper.

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

If budget matters most, go with Kunming, Yunnan. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beijing (Pekin) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.