Cost of Living Comparison Between Suriname and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Suriname and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $296 in Suriname versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $524 in Suriname versus $1,131 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $752 in Suriname versus $1,549 in China.

Living in Suriname costs about 58% less than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Suriname 78% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suriname
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.14 SRD 268
$2.77 ¥18.71
157.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.38 SRD 1,593
$24.05 ¥162
76.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.25 SRD 385
$4.73 ¥31.91
116.70%
Cappuccino
$2.71 SRD 102
$3.08 ¥20.77
-12.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 SRD 44.31
$0.44 ¥2.99
168.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 SRD 23.89
$0.29 ¥1.98
120.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 SRD 104
$1.01 ¥6.80
174.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 SRD 154
$2.08 ¥14.02
96.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suriname
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 SRD 61.8
$1.83 ¥12.38
-9.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 SRD 47.88
$1.62 ¥10.94
-21.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 SRD 55.3
$0.97 ¥6.58
51.55%
Eggs
$3.21 SRD 121
$1.61 ¥10.90
99.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.38 SRD 465
$13.34 ¥90.1
-7.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.42 SRD 204
$3.37 ¥22.74
60.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.32 SRD 388
$10.68 ¥72.1
-3.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.45 SRD 167
$1.81 ¥12.25
145.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 SRD 73.4
$1.25 ¥8.43
56.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.12 SRD 117
$1.46 ¥9.88
113.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.30 SRD 199
$1.15 ¥7.73
360.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 SRD 50.7
$0.73 ¥4.91
84.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 SRD 72.7
$0.89 ¥5.99
117.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 SRD 72.5
$0.60 ¥4.05
221.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SRD 55.3
$0.53 ¥3.58
177.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67 SRD 213
$3.39 ¥22.91
67.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.15 SRD 306
$11.73 ¥79.2
-30.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 SRD 84.6
$0.77 ¥5.22
192.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 SRD 125
$1.63 ¥10.97
104.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Suriname
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 SRD 18.14
$0.41 ¥2.77
17.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.4 SRD 3,323
$21.24 ¥143
316.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 SRD 114
$1.35 ¥9.12
123.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 SRD 94.4
$0.36 ¥2.40
597.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.07 SRD 379
$6.70 ¥45.23
50.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 SRD 42.18
$1.18 ¥7.98
-5.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K SRD 934.2K
$19.8K ¥133.4K
25.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K SRD 935.1K
$16.5K ¥111.6K
50.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.83 SRD 1,497
$51.7 ¥349
-23.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.45 SRD 994
$10.09 ¥68.1
162.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.48 SRD 1,108
$11.38 ¥76.8
159.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.68 SRD 477
$39.24 ¥265
-67.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.37 SRD 766
$14.84 ¥100
37.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59 SRD 173
$6.30 ¥42.53
-27.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suriname
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$63.3 SRD 2,379
$414 ¥2,793
-84.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,921 SRD 72.2K
$17.4K ¥117.5K
-88.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.07 SRD 1,356
$46.77 ¥316
-22.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.59 SRD 1,075
$33.08 ¥223
-13.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 SRD 2,885
$70.9 ¥479
8.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 SRD 4,216
$74.5 ¥503
50.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suriname
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$510 SRD 19.2K
$440 ¥2,971
15.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$221 SRD 8,295
$253 ¥1,706
-12.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,096 SRD 41.2K
$911 ¥6,150
20.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$561 SRD 21.1K
$531 ¥3,582
5.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$475 SRD 17.9K
$4,778 ¥32.3K
-90.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$403 SRD 15.2K
$2,403 ¥16.2K
-83.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suriname
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$282 SRD 10.6K
$1,058 ¥7,140
-73.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.25
4.06
300.25%

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

Last update for Suriname: July 28, 2026

Last update for China: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $125 in Suriname, $287 in China. Capital cities: $501 in Paramaribo vs $909 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $288 in Suriname, $857 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 130% higher in China.

Public transport is 28% more expensive in Suriname.

Salaries are 198% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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
Suriname vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Suriname?
At $873 per month in China and $494 in Suriname, there's a 77% 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 Suriname?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Suriname: 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 Suriname?
Rent in China is consistently higher than in Suriname 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 $1,200 go in China compared to Suriname?
In Suriname, $1,200 covers most cities easily; in China 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 Suriname?
It depends on what you're after: Suriname wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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