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Last update: Nov 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Suriname and China
For one person, living is cheaper in China: $789 a month against $1,045 in Suriname, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Suriname and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,045 in Suriname versus $789 in China.
Suriname $1,045
China $789
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,707 in Suriname versus $1,254 in China.
Suriname $1,707
China $1,254
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,370 in Suriname versus $1,720 in China.
Suriname $2,370
China $1,720
📏
Suriname ($202–$1,050) and China ($468–$1,246) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in Suriname is roughly 32% more expensive than in China on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Suriname 23% lower, China 42% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Suriname
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.49SRD 504
$3.04¥20.25
343.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.28SRD 1,729
$22.12¥147
109.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.72SRD 400
$5.37¥35.75
99.63%
Cappuccino
$2.81SRD 105
$2.93¥19.54
-4.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48SRD 55.2
$0.48¥3.21
208.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87SRD 32.56
$0.30¥2.01
190.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37SRD 88.7
$1.07¥7.15
121.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03SRD 151
$2.21¥14.69
82.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suriname
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81SRD 67.5
$1.80¥12.01
0.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36SRD 50.8
$1.62¥10.76
-16.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43SRD 53.5
$0.99¥6.58
44.44%
Eggs
$3.05SRD 114
$1.62¥10.80
88.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.71SRD 437
$13.44¥89.5
-12.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.42SRD 240
$3.46¥23.05
85.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.95SRD 372
$11.15¥74.2
-10.76%
Apples(1kg)
$4.91SRD 183
$1.89¥12.60
159.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44SRD 91.1
$1.31¥8.72
86.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.82SRD 143
$1.50¥9.97
154.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.83SRD 218
$1.34¥8.90
335.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32SRD 49.15
$0.72¥4.77
83.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94SRD 72.6
$0.93¥6.21
108.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55SRD 57.9
$0.65¥4.35
138.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35SRD 50.4
$0.60¥3.98
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.27SRD 271
$3.82¥25.43
90.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22SRD 307
$12.18¥81.1
-32.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SRD 74.6
$0.91¥6.04
119.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79SRD 142
$1.65¥10.96
129.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Suriname
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55SRD 20.63
$0.29¥1.92
89.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.28SRD 1,206
$18.07¥120
78.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.13SRD 79.4
$1.53¥10.22
39.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56SRD 58.2
$0.37¥2.46
321.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.06SRD 264
$6.69¥44.58
5.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11SRD 41.32
$1.28¥8.50
-13.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KSRD 940.8K
$19.7K¥131.5K
27.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7KSRD 922.3K
$17.5K¥116.3K
41.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.24SRD 1,391
$55.3¥368
-32.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.90SRD 967
$8.32¥55.4
211.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.32SRD 1,132
$11.12¥74.1
172.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.70SRD 512
$39.65¥264
-65.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.78SRD 776
$15.17¥101
36.98%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08SRD 190
$6.65¥44.27
-23.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suriname
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.1SRD 2,319
$514¥3,426
-87.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.4KSRD 576.8K
$34.9K¥232.5K
-55.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.03SRD 1,383
$45.85¥305
-19.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.77SRD 1,075
$35.41¥236
-18.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3SRD 2,811
$76.0¥506
-1.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119SRD 4,456
$80.0¥533
49.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suriname
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$489SRD 18.3K
$380¥2,528
28.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268SRD 10.0K
$232¥1,543
15.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956SRD 35.7K
$836¥5,565
14.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500SRD 18.7K
$462¥3,075
8.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$468SRD 17.5K
$4,743¥31.6K
-90.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$400SRD 14.9K
$2,383¥15.9K
-83.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suriname
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$280SRD 10.4K
$1,117¥7,438
-74.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.25
3.45
371.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suriname: November 2, 2026
Last update for China: November 1, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Suriname
$295 28.2%
China
$212 26.8% ↓ 28.1%$83
🏠Accommodation & Living
Suriname
$268 25.6%
China
$232 29.4% ↓ 13.5%$36
🍽Eating Out
Suriname
$203 19.5%
China
$89 11.2% ↓ 56.4%$115
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
$117 11.2%
China
$107 13.5% ↓ 8.9%$10
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
$93 9%
China
$75 9.5% ↓ 20%$19
🚌Getting Around
Suriname
$44 4.3%
China
$23 2.9% ↓ 49.1%$22
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
$24 2.3%
China
$53 6.7% ↑ 122%$29
🛒Groceries & Markets
Suriname
$687 29%
China
$486 28.3% ↓ 29.2%$200
🏠Accommodation & Living
Suriname
$500 21.1%
China
$462 26.9% ↓ 7.7%$38
🍽Eating Out
Suriname
$645 27.2%
China
$285 16.6% ↓ 55.8%$360
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
$260 11%
China
$237 13.8% ↓ 8.9%$23
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
$119 5%
China
$83 4.8% ↓ 30.4%$36
🚌Getting Around
Suriname
$90 3.8%
China
$46 2.7% ↓ 49.1%$44
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
$69 2.9%
China
$121 7% ↑ 76.7%$53
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $494 in Suriname, $298 in China. Capital cities: $494 in Paramaribo vs $942 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $291 in Suriname, $881 in China. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 66% higher in Suriname.
⭐Dining out costs 100% more in Suriname.
⭐Public transport is 78% more expensive in Suriname.
⭐Salaries are about 3 times higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 $789 per month in China and $1,045 in Suriname, China comes out about 24% cheaper. 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 cheaper in China: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $494 in Suriname and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Suriname?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.