Cost of Living Comparison Between Myanmar and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Myanmar and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $307 in Myanmar versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $532 in Myanmar versus $1,132 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $757 in Myanmar versus $1,551 in China.

Living in Myanmar costs about 57% less than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Myanmar 77% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Myanmar
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 MMK 4,230
$2.81 ¥18.98
-28.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.12 MMK 40.0K
$23.30 ¥158
-17.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 MMK 10.4K
$5.01 ¥33.87
-0.60%
Cappuccino
$1.72 MMK 3,601
$3.01 ¥20.38
-42.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 MMK 1,661
$0.45 ¥3.03
75.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 MMK 1,438
$0.29 ¥1.97
137.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 MMK 2,062
$0.95 ¥6.41
4.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 MMK 3,732
$2.05 ¥13.87
-13.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Myanmar
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MMK 3,565
$1.76 ¥11.87
-3.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.13 MMK 2,366
$1.62 ¥10.98
-30.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 MMK 3,030
$0.95 ¥6.45
52.63%
Eggs
$1.61 MMK 3,379
$1.56 ¥10.55
3.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 MMK 16.6K
$13.06 ¥88.3
-39.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.29 MMK 13.2K
$3.28 ¥22.17
91.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.88 MMK 16.5K
$10.65 ¥72.0
-26.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.39 MMK 9,194
$1.78 ¥12.03
146.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 MMK 2,168
$1.24 ¥8.42
-16.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.64 MMK 5,528
$1.50 ¥10.12
76.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.53 MMK 5,304
$1.15 ¥7.79
120.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 MMK 4,478
$0.75 ¥5.07
185.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 MMK 2,278
$0.86 ¥5.81
26.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 MMK 2,096
$0.62 ¥4.17
61.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 MMK 636
$0.56 ¥3.81
-46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.66 MMK 3,473
$3.51 ¥23.76
-52.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.86 MMK 20.6K
$11.66 ¥78.9
-15.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 MMK 1,899
$0.80 ¥5.40
13.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MMK 3,146
$1.66 ¥11.25
-9.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Myanmar
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 MMK 481
$0.43 ¥2.93
-46.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.61 MMK 20.1K
$20.86 ¥141
-53.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 MMK 2,558
$1.37 ¥9.26
-10.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 MMK 2,054
$0.35 ¥2.38
180.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 MMK 6,649
$6.63 ¥44.82
-52.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$9.30 MMK 19.5K
$1.14 ¥7.69
715.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K MMK 72.7M
$19.2K ¥129.7K
80.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K MMK 77.2M
$16.8K ¥113.4K
119.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Myanmar
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.5 MMK 124.6K
$51.2 ¥346
16.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70 MMK 22.4K
$10.16 ¥68.7
5.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.90 MMK 60.5K
$11.51 ¥77.9
151.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Myanmar
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.2 MMK 111.3K
$40.53 ¥274
31.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.78 MMK 20.5K
$15.05 ¥102
-35.02%
Cinema Ticket
$2.58 MMK 5,399
$6.10 ¥41.26
-57.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Myanmar
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$342 MMK 715.5K
$402 ¥2,719
-15.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K MMK 23.0M
$17.7K ¥119.5K
-37.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Myanmar
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.33 MMK 88.6K
$45.57 ¥308
-7.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2 MMK 119.8K
$33.26 ¥225
71.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 MMK 160.8K
$72.6 ¥491
5.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 MMK 251.6K
$74.5 ¥503
61.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Myanmar
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 MMK 1.0M
$429 ¥2,903
13.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 MMK 433.5K
$257 ¥1,739
-19.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,047 MMK 2.2M
$895 ¥6,055
16.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 MMK 1.6M
$541 ¥3,660
45.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,821 MMK 3.8M
$5,015 ¥33.9K
-63.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$370 MMK 773.7K
$2,469 ¥16.7K
-85.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Myanmar
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$262 MMK 548.4K
$1,055 ¥7,132
-75.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
4.06
170.94%

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

Last update for Myanmar: June 1, 2026

Last update for China: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National salary averages: $241 in Myanmar, $861 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 109% higher in China.

Dining out costs 200% more in China.

Public transport is 1700% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 257% 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
Myanmar vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Myanmar?
At $865 per month in China and $414 in Myanmar, there's a 109% 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 Myanmar?
Myanmar 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 Myanmar?
Rent in China beats Myanmar 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 $1,200 go in China vs Myanmar?
In Myanmar, $1,200 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 Myanmar?
It depends on what you're after. Myanmar 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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