😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,357 in Sint Maarten versus $712 in China.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,053 in Sint Maarten versus $1,132 in China.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,748 in Sint Maarten versus $1,551 in China.
😐Living in Sint Maarten is roughly 371% more expensive than China on average.
📊Sint Maarten (151% above) and China (47% below) straddle the global median.
📏Sint Maarten ($3,079–$3,727) and China ($520–$1,209) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08ANG 30.49
$2.81¥18.98
507.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.7ANG 157
$23.30¥158
276.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.67ANG 15.48
$5.01¥33.87
73.05%
Cappuccino
$3.80ANG 6.79
$3.01¥20.38
26.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96ANG 5.29
$0.45¥3.03
557.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59ANG 6.40
$0.29¥1.97
1137.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97ANG 5.31
$0.95¥6.41
212.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53ANG 8.08
$2.05¥13.87
120.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.40ANG 6.07
$1.76¥11.87
93.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79ANG 4.97
$1.62¥10.98
72.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79ANG 4.99
$0.95¥6.45
193.68%
Eggs
$5.48ANG 9.77
$1.56¥10.55
251.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.47ANG 32.97
$13.06¥88.3
41.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.63ANG 27.91
$3.28¥22.17
376.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.81ANG 28.23
$10.65¥72.0
48.45%
Apples(1kg)
$4.58ANG 8.17
$1.78¥12.03
157.30%
Banana(1kg)
$3.25ANG 5.80
$1.24¥8.42
162.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.03ANG 10.76
$1.50¥10.12
302.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68ANG 8.35
$1.15¥7.79
306.96%
Potato(1kg)
$3.28ANG 5.85
$0.75¥5.07
337.33%
Onion(1kg)
$3.38ANG 6.04
$0.86¥5.81
293.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.78ANG 6.75
$0.62¥4.17
509.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71ANG 3.05
$0.56¥3.81
205.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.12ANG 14.49
$3.51¥23.76
131.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.28ANG 20.13
$11.66¥78.9
-3.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17ANG 3.87
$0.80¥5.40
171.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10ANG 3.75
$1.66¥11.25
26.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33ANG 4.16
$0.43¥2.93
441.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.7ANG 165
$20.86¥141
344.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.95ANG 17.76
$1.37¥9.26
626.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.52ANG 9.85
$0.35¥2.38
1477.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.91ANG 10.54
$6.63¥44.82
-10.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49ANG 2.66
$1.14¥7.69
30.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6KANG 33.3K
$19.2K¥129.7K
-2.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8KANG 26.4K
$16.8K¥113.4K
-11.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$364ANG 650
$51.2¥346
611.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.66ANG 69.0
$10.16¥68.7
280.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3ANG 122
$11.51¥77.9
493.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.1ANG 114
$40.53¥274
58.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.06ANG 41.16
$15.05¥102
53.22%
Cinema Ticket
$12.93ANG 23.09
$6.10¥41.26
111.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$679ANG 1,213
$402¥2,719
68.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KANG 21.2K
$17.7K¥119.5K
-32.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.3ANG 124
$45.57¥308
52.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.98ANG 82.1
$33.26¥225
38.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.2ANG 145
$72.6¥491
11.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0ANG 121
$74.5¥503
-8.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,340ANG 4,177
$429¥2,903
444.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,254ANG 4,024
$257¥1,739
776.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$6,429ANG 11.5K
$895¥6,055
617.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$6,385ANG 11.4K
$541¥3,660
1079.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,015¥33.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.0KANG 21.4K
$2,469¥16.7K
384.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sint Maarten
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,805ANG 3,221
$1,055¥7,132
71.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
4.06
35.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sint Maarten: June 1, 2026
Last update for China: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $2,214 in Sint Maarten, $286 in China. Capital cities: $1,978 in Philipsburg vs $916 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $2,078 in Sint Maarten, $861 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 674% higher in Sint Maarten.
⭐Dining out costs 238% more in Sint Maarten.
⭐Public transport is 72% more expensive in Sint Maarten.
⭐Salaries are 141% higher in Sint Maarten, 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
Sint Maarten vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Sint Maarten?
At $865 per month in China and $3,403 in Sint Maarten, there's a 294% 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 Sint Maarten?
China 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 Sint Maarten?
Rent in Sint Maarten beats 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 vs Sint Maarten?
In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In Sint Maarten, 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 Sint Maarten?
It depends on what you're after. China wins on affordability; Sint Maarten may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Sint Maarten vs other spots: cost of living compared