Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Beijing (Pekin) Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Beijing (Pekin)

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $774 per month in Qingdao, Shandong vs $1,059 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Qingdao, Shandong vs $1,761 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,733 per month in Qingdao, Shandong vs $2,463 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

Qingdao, Shandong is about 27% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin), driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Qingdao, Shandong and Beijing (Pekin) are more affordable than the global median – Qingdao, Shandong 42% lower, Beijing (Pekin) 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 ¥23.11

$4.15 ¥28.07

-17.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.86 ¥121

$27.92 ¥189

-36.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.49 ¥30.38

$5.31 ¥35.92

-15.44%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ¥22.40

$3.04 ¥20.58

8.88%

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

$0.58 ¥3.94

$0.46 ¥3.11

26.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.94

$0.30 ¥2.04

-3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.82 ¥5.53

$1.14 ¥7.71

-28.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ¥14.48

$2.13 ¥14.44

0.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ¥13.27

$1.72 ¥11.67

13.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ¥10.09

$1.59 ¥10.75

-6.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ¥6.65

$1.10 ¥7.47

-10.91%

Eggs

$1.86 ¥12.56

$1.65 ¥11.16

12.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.99 ¥101

$15.89 ¥108

-5.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 ¥28.39

$3.22 ¥21.77

30.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 ¥70.4

$9.98 ¥67.6

4.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 ¥9.31

$2.11 ¥14.25

-34.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ¥8.18

$1.59 ¥10.77

-23.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 ¥13.33

$1.74 ¥11.77

13.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 ¥6.77

$1.35 ¥9.12

-25.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ¥5.08

$0.83 ¥5.65

-9.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 ¥7.29

$0.92 ¥6.25

17.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 ¥6.35

$0.71 ¥4.84

32.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ¥3.18

$0.56 ¥3.80

-16.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.92 ¥26.57

$3.45 ¥23.33

13.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 ¥99.6

$14.96 ¥101

-1.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ¥6.75

$0.86 ¥5.80

16.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ¥10.46

$1.84 ¥12.47

-15.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.54 ¥3.67

-48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.95 ¥115

$31.39 ¥212

-46.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 ¥9.31

$1.85 ¥12.50

-25.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ¥2.30

$0.36 ¥2.41

-5.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 ¥50.7

$10.52 ¥71.2

-28.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.59

$1.10 ¥7.42

1.82%

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

$20.1K ¥136.1K

$18.2K ¥122.9K

10.75%

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

$13.5K ¥91.6K

$15.4K ¥104.2K

-12.08%

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

$52.3 ¥354

$52.7 ¥357

-0.82%

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

$11.00 ¥74.4

$8.97 ¥60.7

22.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.45 ¥70.8

$12.62 ¥85.4

-17.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.87 ¥182

$48.30 ¥327

-44.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.90 ¥141

$17.96 ¥122

16.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ¥46.59

$8.17 ¥55.3

-15.79%

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

$338 ¥2,290

$668 ¥4,521

-49.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.2K ¥163.9K

$24.1K ¥163.0K

0.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.8 ¥513

$61.1 ¥413

24.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.07 ¥258

$34.02 ¥230

11.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 ¥548

$76.8 ¥520

5.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ¥684

$99.1 ¥671

2.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 ¥2,262

$916 ¥6,199

-63.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 ¥1,311

$455 ¥3,083

-57.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$749 ¥5,073

$1,913 ¥12.9K

-60.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 ¥2,772

$1,084 ¥7,336

-62.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,578 ¥24.2K

$12.4K ¥83.8K

-71.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,142 ¥14.5K

$6,323 ¥42.8K

-66.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,127 ¥7,630

$1,569 ¥10.6K

-28.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

3.64

4.67%

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

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: June 1, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $334 in Qingdao, Shandong versus $916 in Beijing (Pekin). Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Beijing (Pekin), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Qingdao, Shandong versus $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $223 – making Qingdao, Shandong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Qingdao, Shandong vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,161 per month in Qingdao, Shandong and $1,589 in Beijing (Pekin). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qingdao, Shandong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Qingdao, Shandong and $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin). That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $774 in Qingdao, Shandong and $1,059 in Beijing (Pekin). The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Qingdao, Shandong, where all-in costs run around $774, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,059. In Qingdao, Shandong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qingdao, Shandong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Qingdao, Shandong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beijing (Pekin) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.