😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,997 in Seychelles versus $720 in China.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,014 in Seychelles versus $1,148 in China.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,030 in Seychelles versus $1,576 in China.
🌍Living in Seychelles is roughly 177% more expensive than in China on average.
📊Seychelles (45% above) and China (48% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $468 to $1,236, compared to $1,768–$2,235 in Seychelles. City choice carries more weight in China.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seychelles
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73SCR 270
$2.93¥19.60
539.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.0SCR 1,370
$22.72¥152
317.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.62SCR 182
$5.07¥33.95
148.92%
Cappuccino
$4.48SCR 64.7
$2.94¥19.70
52.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39SCR 34.42
$0.48¥3.21
397.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20SCR 31.75
$0.30¥2.02
633.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.68SCR 111
$1.06¥7.10
624.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03SCR 58.2
$2.25¥15.07
79.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seychelles
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88SCR 27.15
$1.79¥11.99
5.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67SCR 24.04
$1.70¥11.35
-1.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50SCR 36.05
$0.96¥6.45
160.42%
Eggs
$3.88SCR 56.0
$1.61¥10.79
140.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.80SCR 257
$13.60¥91.1
30.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.73SCR 112
$3.41¥22.84
126.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.82SCR 185
$11.07¥74.2
15.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24SCR 32.39
$1.81¥12.09
23.76%
Banana(1kg)
$3.09SCR 44.65
$1.30¥8.74
137.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01SCR 29.03
$1.48¥9.91
35.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.38SCR 106
$1.30¥8.72
467.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54SCR 22.29
$0.72¥4.82
113.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70SCR 24.57
$0.94¥6.31
80.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48SCR 21.34
$0.61¥4.08
142.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24SCR 17.90
$0.56¥3.73
121.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.31SCR 365
$3.67¥24.58
589.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.90SCR 157
$11.90¥79.7
-8.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.43SCR 49.53
$0.83¥5.56
313.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94SCR 56.8
$1.65¥11.08
138.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Seychelles
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75SCR 10.78
$0.29¥1.92
158.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.35SCR 524
$22.61¥151
60.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$28.51SCR 411
$1.45¥9.72
1866.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.34¥2.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.17SCR 204
$7.27¥48.72
94.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53SCR 22.01
$1.23¥8.26
24.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7KSCR 385.2K
$19.5K¥130.9K
36.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KSCR 476.5K
$17.2K¥115.5K
91.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seychelles
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131SCR 1,895
$55.5¥371
136.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.75SCR 602
$8.51¥57.0
390.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$122SCR 1,761
$10.81¥72.4
1029.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seychelles
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$92.3SCR 1,332
$40.02¥268
130.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.05SCR 116
$14.80¥99.1
-45.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93SCR 114
$6.73¥45.09
17.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seychelles
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$144SCR 2,077
$454¥3,042
-68.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,757SCR 126.3K
$19.5K¥130.8K
-55.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seychelles
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.64SCR 557
$44.95¥301
-14.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.30SCR 351
$35.81¥240
-32.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0SCR 1,111
$76.8¥514
0.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110SCR 1,587
$77.3¥518
42.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seychelles
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948SCR 13.7K
$385¥2,581
146.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$840SCR 12.1K
$242¥1,623
246.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,181SCR 31.5K
$837¥5,603
160.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,693SCR 24.4K
$474¥3,177
256.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$699SCR 10.1K
$4,619¥30.9K
-84.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$880SCR 12.7K
$2,316¥15.5K
-62.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seychelles
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$826SCR 11.9K
$1,062¥7,110
-22.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
3.47
245.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seychelles: September 6, 2026
Last update for China: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $977 in Seychelles, $295 in China. Capital cities: $957 in Victoria vs $957 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $907 in Seychelles, $865 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 231% higher in Seychelles.
⭐Dining out costs 233% more in Seychelles.
⭐Public transport is 65% more expensive in Seychelles.
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
Seychelles vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Seychelles?
At $852 per month in China and $2,002 in Seychelles, there's a 135% 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 Seychelles?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in China: 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 Seychelles?
Rent in Seychelles is consistently higher than in China 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 $2,000 go in China compared to Seychelles?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Seychelles 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 Seychelles?
It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; Seychelles may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Seychelles vs other spots: cost of living compared