Cost of Living Comparison Between Minsk and Haikou Cost of Living Comparison Between Minsk and Haikou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Minsk versus $786 in Haikou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,364 in Minsk versus $1,196 in Haikou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,867 in Minsk versus $1,605 in Haikou.

Living in Minsk is roughly 10% more expensive than in Haikou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Minsk 36% lower, Haikou 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.16 BYN 26.39

$2.55 ¥17.26

259.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.21 BYN 89.9

$24.04 ¥163

29.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 BYN 15.40

$5.31 ¥35.95

0.75%

Cappuccino

$1.70 BYN 4.89

$2.95 ¥19.94

-42.37%

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

$0.65 BYN 1.86

$0.45 ¥3.06

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 BYN 1.22

$0.30 ¥2.06

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 BYN 3.60

$1.40 ¥9.49

-10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 BYN 6.29

$3.63 ¥24.55

-39.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.73 BYN 2.11

$1.77 ¥12.00

-58.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 BYN 1.66

$1.42 ¥9.61

-59.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 BYN 3.42

$0.88 ¥5.93

35.23%

Eggs

$1.35 BYN 3.88

$1.85 ¥12.55

-27.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.42 BYN 18.48

$12.90 ¥87.3

-50.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 BYN 11.79

$5.47 ¥37.00

-25.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 BYN 23.25

$15.10 ¥102

-46.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 BYN 3.36

$0.86 ¥5.79

36.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 BYN 4.94

$0.89 ¥6.05

93.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 BYN 5.05

$0.40 ¥2.72

337.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 BYN 7.28

$0.95 ¥6.40

166.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 BYN 1.35

$0.70 ¥4.76

-32.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 BYN 1.76

$0.68 ¥4.62

-10.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 BYN 3.88

$0.27 ¥1.81

400.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 BYN 1.58

$0.52 ¥3.53

5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 BYN 5.25

$2.90 ¥19.65

-37.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.79 BYN 25.32

$11.69 ¥79.2

-24.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 BYN 2.87

$0.79 ¥5.35

26.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 BYN 4.98

$1.57 ¥10.65

10.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 BYN 0.85

$0.27 ¥1.83

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.77 BYN 45.43

$16.76 ¥113

-5.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 BYN 4.05

$2.73 ¥18.47

-48.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 BYN 0.86

$0.33 ¥2.20

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 BYN 16.48

$6.73 ¥45.58

-15.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 BYN 2.09

$1.16 ¥7.87

-37.07%

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

$20.2K BYN 58.1K

$20.3K ¥137.7K

-0.92%

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

$24.3K BYN 70.0K

$16.7K ¥112.9K

45.78%

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

$53.3 BYN 153

$34.12 ¥231

56.21%

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

$7.44 BYN 21.43

$13.71 ¥92.8

-45.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.33 BYN 29.74

$8.57 ¥58.0

20.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.32 BYN 90.2

$32.90 ¥223

-4.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.79 BYN 42.60

$5.79 ¥39.21

155.44%

Cinema Ticket

$4.57 BYN 13.17

$5.41 ¥36.64

-15.53%

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

$305 BYN 878

$340 ¥2,304

-10.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K BYN 29.6K

$28.4K ¥192.2K

-63.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 BYN 145

$41.66 ¥282

20.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.31 BYN 125

$41.90 ¥284

3.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 BYN 329

$42.49 ¥288

168.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.4 BYN 280

$35.08 ¥237

177.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 BYN 1,374

$352 ¥2,383

35.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 BYN 911

$282 ¥1,906

12.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$846 BYN 2,437

$540 ¥3,655

56.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$557 BYN 1,604

$469 ¥3,173

18.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,555 BYN 7,358

$3,108 ¥21.0K

-17.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,637 BYN 4,714

$2,120 ¥14.3K

-22.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$944 BYN 2,719

$719 ¥4,868

31.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.77

4.85

204.54%

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

Last update for Minsk: July 11, 2026

Last update for Haikou: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Minsk and $352 in Haikou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Minsk pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Minsk vs $24.00 in Haikou. Groceries flip the comparison at $164 vs $211, with Minsk cheaper for home cooking.

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

Minsk vs Haikou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Minsk and Haikou differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $786 including rent). Haikou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 31% higher in Minsk, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Minsk versus $352 in Haikou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Minsk versus $786 in Haikou – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Haikou runs roughly 6% less than in Minsk. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Haikou gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Minsk and Haikou are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Haikou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Minsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.