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: $303 in Suriname versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $533 in Suriname versus $1,133 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $763 in Suriname versus $1,553 in China.

Living in Suriname costs about 57% less than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Suriname 77% lower, China 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suriname
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.91 SRD 256
$2.71 ¥18.31
154.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.76 SRD 1,587
$23.22 ¥157
84.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.42 SRD 387
$5.00 ¥33.78
108.40%
Cappuccino
$2.68 SRD 99.3
$3.08 ¥20.84
-12.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 SRD 44.49
$0.48 ¥3.24
150.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 SRD 23.73
$0.29 ¥1.97
120.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 SRD 108
$1.00 ¥6.73
191.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 SRD 149
$2.10 ¥14.21
90.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suriname
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 SRD 60.8
$1.75 ¥11.80
-6.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 SRD 47.23
$1.67 ¥11.25
-23.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 SRD 51.7
$0.99 ¥6.67
40.40%
Eggs
$3.40 SRD 126
$1.57 ¥10.60
116.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.27 SRD 455
$13.06 ¥88.3
-6.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.15 SRD 191
$3.31 ¥22.38
55.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.26 SRD 381
$10.82 ¥73.1
-5.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.48 SRD 166
$1.78 ¥12.01
151.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 SRD 69.8
$1.24 ¥8.39
51.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.16 SRD 117
$1.50 ¥10.17
110.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.48 SRD 203
$1.20 ¥8.11
356.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 SRD 50.8
$0.76 ¥5.16
80.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.83 SRD 68.0
$0.92 ¥6.20
98.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.84 SRD 68.3
$0.58 ¥3.89
217.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 SRD 55.0
$0.53 ¥3.59
179.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 SRD 207
$3.45 ¥23.28
62.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.23 SRD 305
$11.95 ¥80.7
-31.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 SRD 80.7
$0.82 ¥5.57
165.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 SRD 121
$1.65 ¥11.15
98.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Suriname
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 SRD 16.84
$0.43 ¥2.91
4.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.6 SRD 3,399
$20.78 ¥140
340.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 SRD 109
$1.38 ¥9.32
113.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.53 SRD 94.0
$0.33 ¥2.22
666.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.14 SRD 376
$6.74 ¥45.50
50.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 SRD 40.74
$1.13 ¥7.64
-2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K SRD 925.9K
$19.6K ¥132.5K
27.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K SRD 941.7K
$16.8K ¥113.5K
51.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suriname
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.96 SRD 1,446
$50.7 ¥343
-23.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.99 SRD 965
$10.12 ¥68.4
156.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77 SRD 1,105
$11.42 ¥77.2
160.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suriname
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.72 SRD 472
$40.33 ¥272
-68.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 SRD 753
$14.57 ¥98.5
39.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66 SRD 173
$6.40 ¥43.26
-27.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suriname
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$63.9 SRD 2,373
$417 ¥2,817
-84.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,959 SRD 72.7K
$17.2K ¥116.5K
-88.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suriname
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.01 SRD 1,373
$45.55 ¥308
-18.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.87 SRD 1,071
$32.26 ¥218
-10.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 SRD 2,818
$72.9 ¥493
4.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 SRD 4,140
$73.6 ¥497
51.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suriname
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$496 SRD 18.4K
$433 ¥2,925
14.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 SRD 7,933
$261 ¥1,765
-18.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,077 SRD 40.0K
$905 ¥6,115
18.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$581 SRD 21.6K
$533 ¥3,599
9.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$474 SRD 17.6K
$4,965 ¥33.5K
-90.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$404 SRD 15.0K
$2,518 ¥17.0K
-83.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suriname
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$282 SRD 10.5K
$1,063 ¥7,181
-73.43%
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: June 15, 2026

Last update for China: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $125 in Suriname, $287 in China. Capital cities: $501 in Paramaribo vs $886 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $290 in Suriname, $862 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 130% higher in China.

Dining out costs 11% more in China.

Public transport is 28% more expensive in Suriname.

Salaries are 197% higher in China, 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
Suriname vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Suriname?
At $862 per month in China and $506 in Suriname, there's a 70% 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?
Suriname 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 Suriname?
Rent in China beats 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 $2,000 go in China vs Suriname?
In Suriname, $2,000 covers most cities easily. In China, 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 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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