Cost of Living Comparison Between Seychelles and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Seychelles and China

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$18.73 SCR 270
$2.93 ¥19.60
539.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.0 SCR 1,370
$22.72 ¥152
317.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.62 SCR 182
$5.07 ¥33.95
148.92%
Cappuccino
$4.48 SCR 64.7
$2.94 ¥19.70
52.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 SCR 34.42
$0.48 ¥3.21
397.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 SCR 31.75
$0.30 ¥2.02
633.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.68 SCR 111
$1.06 ¥7.10
624.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 SCR 58.2
$2.25 ¥15.07
79.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seychelles
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 SCR 27.15
$1.79 ¥11.99
5.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 SCR 24.04
$1.70 ¥11.35
-1.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.50 SCR 36.05
$0.96 ¥6.45
160.42%
Eggs
$3.88 SCR 56.0
$1.61 ¥10.79
140.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.80 SCR 257
$13.60 ¥91.1
30.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.73 SCR 112
$3.41 ¥22.84
126.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.82 SCR 185
$11.07 ¥74.2
15.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 SCR 32.39
$1.81 ¥12.09
23.76%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 SCR 44.65
$1.30 ¥8.74
137.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 SCR 29.03
$1.48 ¥9.91
35.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.38 SCR 106
$1.30 ¥8.72
467.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 SCR 22.29
$0.72 ¥4.82
113.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 SCR 24.57
$0.94 ¥6.31
80.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 SCR 21.34
$0.61 ¥4.08
142.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 SCR 17.90
$0.56 ¥3.73
121.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.31 SCR 365
$3.67 ¥24.58
589.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.90 SCR 157
$11.90 ¥79.7
-8.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.43 SCR 49.53
$0.83 ¥5.56
313.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 SCR 56.8
$1.65 ¥11.08
138.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Seychelles
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 SCR 10.78
$0.29 ¥1.92
158.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.35 SCR 524
$22.61 ¥151
60.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$28.51 SCR 411
$1.45 ¥9.72
1866.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.34 ¥2.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.17 SCR 204
$7.27 ¥48.72
94.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 SCR 22.01
$1.23 ¥8.26
24.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K SCR 385.2K
$19.5K ¥130.9K
36.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K SCR 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)
$131 SCR 1,895
$55.5 ¥371
136.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.75 SCR 602
$8.51 ¥57.0
390.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$122 SCR 1,761
$10.81 ¥72.4
1029.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seychelles
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$92.3 SCR 1,332
$40.02 ¥268
130.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.05 SCR 116
$14.80 ¥99.1
-45.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93 SCR 114
$6.73 ¥45.09
17.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seychelles
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 SCR 2,077
$454 ¥3,042
-68.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,757 SCR 126.3K
$19.5K ¥130.8K
-55.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seychelles
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.64 SCR 557
$44.95 ¥301
-14.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.30 SCR 351
$35.81 ¥240
-32.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 SCR 1,111
$76.8 ¥514
0.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 SCR 1,587
$77.3 ¥518
42.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seychelles
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 SCR 13.7K
$385 ¥2,581
146.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$840 SCR 12.1K
$242 ¥1,623
246.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,181 SCR 31.5K
$837 ¥5,603
160.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,693 SCR 24.4K
$474 ¥3,177
256.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$699 SCR 10.1K
$4,619 ¥30.9K
-84.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$880 SCR 12.7K
$2,316 ¥15.5K
-62.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seychelles
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$826 SCR 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.

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