Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mauritania and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $752 in Mauritania versus $784 in China.
Mauritania $752
China $784
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,272 in Mauritania versus $1,268 in China.
Mauritania $1,272
China $1,268
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,792 in Mauritania versus $1,752 in China.
Mauritania $1,792
China $1,752
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $461 to $1,250, compared to $263–$820 in Mauritania. City choice carries more weight in China.
🌍
Living in Mauritania costs about 4% less than in China on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Mauritania 44% lower, China 42% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Mauritania
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.47MRU 98.9
$2.90¥19.39
-14.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.38MRU 936
$22.02¥147
6.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11MRU 245
$5.20¥34.74
17.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80MRU 72.1
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74MRU 69.6
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.31MRU 92.7
$3.04¥20.31
-24.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77MRU 71.0
$0.52¥3.45
240.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12MRU 84.7
$0.28¥1.85
657.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.01¥6.75
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.19¥14.64
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44MRU 57.7
$1.75¥11.71
-17.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28MRU 11.28
$1.64¥10.96
-82.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33MRU 53.3
$0.92¥6.12
44.57%
Eggs
$2.23MRU 89.5
$1.59¥10.66
40.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.16MRU 247
$12.99¥86.8
-52.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.36MRU 214
$3.35¥22.38
60.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.69MRU 268
$11.18¥74.7
-40.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.96MRU 119
$1.80¥12.02
64.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76MRU 70.6
$1.31¥8.78
34.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43MRU 57.1
$1.47¥9.80
-2.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85MRU 33.90
$1.32¥8.79
-35.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82MRU 32.79
$0.76¥5.07
7.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78MRU 31.32
$0.92¥6.15
-15.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75MRU 29.91
$0.59¥3.94
27.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MRU 24.15
$0.54¥3.63
11.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$9.83MRU 394
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.59MRU 104
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74MRU 69.8
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45MRU 98.0
$3.79¥25.34
-35.36%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.14¥81.1
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.82¥5.48
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.63¥10.92
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mauritania
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46MRU 18.46
$0.29¥1.93
58.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.68MRU 868
$22.33¥149
-2.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91MRU 36.38
$1.53¥10.24
-40.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35MRU 14.08
$0.35¥2.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.87MRU 195
$7.00¥46.79
-30.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MRU 53.9
$1.31¥8.77
2.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$7,504MRU 300.4K
$19.0K¥127.1K
-60.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$9,220MRU 369.2K
$17.0K¥113.7K
-45.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127MRU 5,086
$54.1¥362
134.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.98MRU 880
$8.42¥56.3
161.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6MRU 2,386
$10.72¥71.6
455.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.6MRU 3,466
$40.72¥272
112.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$251MRU 10.0K
$14.58¥97.4
1618.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09MRU 164
$6.76¥45.15
-39.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mauritania
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MRU 18.1K
$462¥3,089
-2.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,361MRU 294.7K
$19.6K¥131.0K
-62.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.08MRU 604
$45.57¥305
-66.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.55MRU 903
$36.05¥241
-37.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.1MRU 2,685
$75.4¥504
-11.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.17MRU 1,849
$79.0¥528
-41.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194MRU 7,755
$386¥2,577
-49.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137MRU 5,501
$240¥1,601
-42.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718MRU 28.7K
$843¥5,637
-14.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$277MRU 11.1K
$461¥3,083
-39.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,590¥30.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,279¥15.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mauritania
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645MRU 25.8K
$1,060¥7,082
-39.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
3.46
478.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mauritania: October 4, 2026
Last update for China: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
$209 27.4%
China
$73 9.2% ↓ 64.9%$135
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
$146 19.2%
China
$207 26.1% ↑ 41.6%$61
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
$137 18%
China
$240 30.1% ↑ 74.4%$102
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
$95 12.4%
China
$54 6.8% ↓ 42.8%$41
🍽Eating Out
Mauritania
$81 10.7%
China
$88 11.1% ↑ 7.9%$6.5
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
$68 8.9%
China
$106 13.4% ↑ 56.5%$38
🚌Getting Around
Mauritania
$26 3.4%
China
$27 3.4% ↑ 2.1%$0.6
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mauritania
$231 12.9%
China
$82 4.8% ↓ 64.6%$149
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mauritania
$360 20.2%
China
$477 27.8% ↑ 32.4%$116
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mauritania
$277 15.5%
China
$461 26.9% ↑ 66.6%$184
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mauritania
$440 24.7%
China
$123 7.2% ↓ 72%$317
🍽Eating Out
Mauritania
$271 15.2%
China
$283 16.5% ↑ 4.5%$12
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mauritania
$151 8.5%
China
$236 13.8% ↑ 56.5%$85
🚌Getting Around
Mauritania
$53 3%
China
$54 3.2% ↑ 1.4%$0.8
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $181 in Mauritania, $297 in China. Capital cities: $297 in Nouakchott vs $933 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $624 in Mauritania, $868 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 64% higher in China.
⭐Public transport is 55% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 39% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.
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
Mauritania vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Mauritania?
At $784 per month in China and $752 in Mauritania, there's a 4% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do rents compare between China and Mauritania?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $297 in China and $181 in Mauritania. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $1,000 go in China compared to Mauritania?
In Mauritania, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in China it stretches only to regional areas and 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 in Mauritania?
It depends on what you're after: Mauritania wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Mauritania vs other spots: cost of living compared