Cost of Living Comparison Between Maldives and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Maldives and China

😐 Solo nomad: Maldives is 44.6% more expensive than China without rent, and 84% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Maldives is 46.4% more expensive than China without rent, and 82.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maldives
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 MVR 91.7
$2.85 ¥20.46
108.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.47 MVR 763
$23.97 ¥172
106.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 MVR 155
$4.96 ¥35.61
102.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.79 MVR 73.8
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 MVR 90.7
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.03 MVR 46.78
$3.13 ¥22.47
-3.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MVR 22.13
$0.44 ¥3.18
225.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MVR 5.29
$0.29 ¥2.1
17.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.95 ¥6.83
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.14 ¥15.32
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maldives
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MVR 26.74
$1.85 ¥13.23
-6.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 MVR 23.51
$1.68 ¥12.06
-9.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 MVR 17.09
$0.95 ¥6.81
16.84%
Eggs
$1.58 MVR 24.42
$1.55 ¥11.11
1.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.72 MVR 119
$13.25 ¥95.1
-41.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.08 MVR 93.7
$3.28 ¥23.52
85.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.17 MVR 157
$10.85 ¥77.8
-6.27%
Apples (1kg)
$4.15 MVR 63.9
$1.77 ¥12.66
134.46%
Banana (1kg)
$3.69 MVR 56.9
$1.26 ¥9.01
192.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.9 MVR 60.1
$1.5 ¥10.73
160.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.6 MVR 55.5
$1.19 ¥8.5
202.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 MVR 22.12
$0.75 ¥5.4
90.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 MVR 18.04
$0.86 ¥6.15
36.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 MVR 37.9
$0.61 ¥4.37
303.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 MVR 9.25
$0.58 ¥4.14
3.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$8.9 MVR 137
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 MVR 40.71
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.33 MVR 128
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14 MVR 125
$3.45 ¥24.74
135.94%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.3 ¥81.1
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.84 ¥6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.68 ¥12.05
-
🚌 Getting Around
Maldives
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MVR 10.47
$0.4 ¥2.86
70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.37 MVR 437
$20.83 ¥149
36.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.91 MVR 29.5
$1.36 ¥9.74
40.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 MVR 29.85
$0.35 ¥2.55
454.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 MVR 128
$6.8 ¥48.75
21.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 MVR 14.94
$1.12 ¥8.05
-13.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K MVR 494.4K
$19.2K ¥137.7K
67.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30K MVR 462.4K
$16.7K ¥119.8K
79.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maldives
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 MVR 1,814
$51.4 ¥369
128.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.9 MVR 631
$9.77 ¥70.1
318.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.2 MVR 1,113
$11.34 ¥81.3
536.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maldives
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.1 MVR 1,158
$39.55 ¥284
89.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.31 MVR 560
$14.89 ¥107
143.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.3 MVR 143
$6.23 ¥44.71
49.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maldives
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 MVR 2,671
$417 ¥2,989
-58.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,256 MVR 50.2K
$17.7K ¥126.8K
-81.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maldives
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.42 MVR 654
$45.65 ¥327
-7.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 MVR 776
$33.49 ¥240
50.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.3 MVR 1,268
$71.8 ¥515
14.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.2 MVR 836
$72.9 ¥523
-25.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maldives
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,010 MVR 15.6K
$445 ¥3,194
126.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$688 MVR 10.6K
$255 ¥1,830
169.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 MVR 25.7K
$915 ¥6,566
82.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,394 MVR 21.5K
$543 ¥3,895
156.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,882 MVR 44.4K
$6,142 ¥44.1K
-53.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,075 MVR 16.6K
$2,860 ¥20.5K
-62.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maldives
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$947 MVR 14.6K
$942 ¥6,755
0.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.4
4.06
205.42%

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

Last update for Maldives: October 29, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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