For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $1,338 in Niger, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Niger and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,338 in Niger versus $791 in China.
Niger $1,338
China $791
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,716 in Niger versus $1,251 in China.
Niger $1,716
China $1,251
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,094 in Niger versus $1,711 in China.
Niger $2,094
China $1,711
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $465 to $1,222, compared to $1,328–$1,328 in Niger. City choice carries more weight in China.
🌍
Living in Niger is roughly 69% more expensive than in China on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Niger 2% lower, China 42% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Niger
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.42F CFA 3,781
$2.98¥19.84
115.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.85F CFA 22.9K
$22.09¥147
75.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29F CFA 5,469
$5.20¥34.66
78.65%
Cappuccino
$3.20F CFA 1,883
$2.97¥19.77
7.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41F CFA 828
$0.48¥3.19
193.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98F CFA 579
$0.30¥2.01
226.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30F CFA 768
$1.08¥7.19
20.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91F CFA 1,713
$2.28¥15.18
27.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Niger
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42F CFA 1,426
$1.80¥11.98
34.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56F CFA 328
$1.68¥11.17
-66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73F CFA 1,017
$0.92¥6.14
88.04%
Eggs
$2.18F CFA 1,285
$1.61¥10.75
35.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$13.38¥89.2
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11F CFA 3,601
$3.35¥22.31
82.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.84F CFA 4,620
$11.35¥75.7
-30.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.46F CFA 2,039
$1.82¥12.14
90.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57F CFA 922
$1.31¥8.71
19.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81F CFA 1,653
$1.49¥9.91
88.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66F CFA 980
$1.27¥8.49
30.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41F CFA 830
$0.71¥4.74
98.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67F CFA 392
$0.93¥6.22
-27.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88F CFA 517
$0.62¥4.12
41.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99F CFA 586
$0.56¥3.75
76.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.62F CFA 1,544
$3.78¥25.19
-30.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.52F CFA 7,966
$12.13¥80.9
11.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34F CFA 791
$0.83¥5.55
61.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33F CFA 1,961
$1.68¥11.23
98.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Niger
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35F CFA 206
$0.29¥1.92
20.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$17.83¥119
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42F CFA 247
$1.49¥9.91
-71.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33F CFA 193
$0.37¥2.50
-10.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.49F CFA 5,002
$7.10¥47.31
19.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92F CFA 541
$1.26¥8.39
-26.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KF CFA 12.1M
$19.4K¥129.6K
5.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KF CFA 14.0M
$17.5K¥116.9K
35.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Niger
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169F CFA 99.5K
$54.6¥364
209.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.09F CFA 10.1K
$8.73¥58.2
95.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.6F CFA 50.4K
$11.07¥73.8
672.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Niger
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$72.9F CFA 42.9K
$40.77¥272
78.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$14.48¥96.5
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.09F CFA 3,001
$6.78¥45.19
-24.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Niger
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,015F CFA 598.1K
$517¥3,443
96.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,286F CFA 2.5M
$19.8K¥132.0K
-78.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Niger
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0F CFA 40.1K
$46.53¥310
46.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$84.3F CFA 49.6K
$35.66¥238
136.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.5F CFA 30.3K
$77.0¥513
-33.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9F CFA 40.0K
$80.3¥535
-15.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Niger
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$954F CFA 561.8K
$386¥2,572
147.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$511F CFA 300.8K
$235¥1,563
117.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$803F CFA 473.2K
$822¥5,478
-2.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$421F CFA 248.1K
$453¥3,020
-7.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,669F CFA 983.3K
$4,697¥31.3K
-64.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$945F CFA 556.5K
$2,372¥15.8K
-60.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Niger
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$384F CFA 226.0K
$1,093¥7,286
-64.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
3.46
160.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Niger: October 24, 2026
Last update for China: October 24, 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.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Niger
$511 38.2%
China
$235 29.6% ↓ 54.1%$276
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Niger
$272 20.3%
China
$74 9.4% ↓ 72.6%$197
🛒Groceries & Markets
Niger
$207 * 15.5%
China
$210 26.5% ↑ 1.4%$2.9
🍽Eating Out
Niger
$139 10.4%
China
$88 11.1% ↓ 36.8%$51
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Niger
$122 9.1%
China
$108 13.6% ↓ 11.9%$15
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Niger
$83 6.2%
China
$54 6.9% ↓ 34.6%$29
🚌Getting Around
Niger
$3.5 * 0.3%
China
$22 2.8% ↑ 546%$19
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Niger
$421 20.1%
China
$453 26.5% ↑ 7.6%$32
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Niger
$289 13.8%
China
$83 4.9% ↓ 71.2%$206
🛒Groceries & Markets
Niger
$470 * 22.4%
China
$483 28.3% ↑ 2.9%$14
🍽Eating Out
Niger
$469 22.4%
China
$284 16.6% ↓ 39.6%$186
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Niger
$272 13%
China
$239 14% ↓ 11.9%$32
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Niger
$166 * 7.9%
China
$123 7.2% ↓ 25.9%$43
🚌Getting Around
Niger
$7.6 * 0.4%
China
$45 2.6% ↑ 495%$38
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $938 in Niger, $298 in China. Capital cities: $938 in Niamey vs $933 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $385 in Niger, $873 in China. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 215% higher in Niger.
⭐Dining out costs 73% more in Niger.
⭐Salaries are about 2.3 times 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
Niger vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Niger?
At $791 per month in China and $1,338 in Niger, there’s a 69% 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 Niger?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $938 in Niger and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Niger?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability; Niger may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.