🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $355 in Tajikistan versus $720 in China.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $591 in Tajikistan versus $1,148 in China.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $827 in Tajikistan versus $1,576 in China.
🌍Living in Tajikistan costs about 51% less than in China on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Tajikistan 74% lower, China 48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.82TJS 53.9
$2.93¥19.60
98.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.73TJS 155
$22.72¥152
-26.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.28TJS 48.85
$5.07¥33.95
4.14%
Cappuccino
$1.66TJS 15.33
$2.94¥19.70
-43.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59TJS 5.44
$0.48¥3.21
22.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38TJS 3.51
$0.30¥2.02
26.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32TJS 12.22
$1.06¥7.10
24.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00TJS 18.51
$2.25¥15.07
-11.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01TJS 9.34
$1.79¥11.99
-43.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60TJS 5.52
$1.70¥11.35
-64.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08TJS 19.20
$0.96¥6.45
116.67%
Eggs
$1.74TJS 16.09
$1.61¥10.79
8.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.76TJS 109
$13.60¥91.1
-13.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87TJS 35.81
$3.41¥22.84
13.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.46TJS 106
$11.07¥74.2
3.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71TJS 15.81
$1.81¥12.09
-5.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.70TJS 24.96
$1.30¥8.74
107.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70TJS 24.96
$1.48¥9.91
82.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85TJS 7.87
$1.30¥8.72
-34.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.62TJS 5.74
$0.72¥4.82
-13.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41TJS 3.80
$0.94¥6.31
-56.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94TJS 8.74
$0.61¥4.08
54.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64TJS 5.89
$0.56¥3.73
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75TJS 25.46
$3.67¥24.58
-25.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.27TJS 104
$11.90¥79.7
-5.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31TJS 12.15
$0.83¥5.56
57.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84TJS 17.05
$1.65¥11.08
11.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Tajikistan
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28TJS 2.62
$0.29¥1.92
-3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.15TJS 223
$22.61¥151
6.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09TJS 10.11
$1.45¥9.72
-24.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TJS 2.84
$0.34¥2.31
-8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.48TJS 59.9
$7.27¥48.72
-10.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19TJS 11.03
$1.23¥8.26
-3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3KTJS 197.0K
$19.5K¥130.9K
8.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KTJS 207.4K
$17.2K¥115.5K
29.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.4TJS 494
$55.5¥371
-3.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.31TJS 86.1
$8.51¥57.0
9.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.66TJS 173
$10.81¥72.4
72.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.47TJS 356
$40.02¥268
-3.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.38TJS 124
$14.80¥99.1
-9.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.36TJS 49.58
$6.73¥45.09
-20.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.4TJS 920
$454¥3,042
-78.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,588TJS 60.9K
$19.5K¥130.8K
-66.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.86TJS 230
$44.95¥301
-44.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.80TJS 387
$35.81¥240
16.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.9TJS 600
$76.8¥514
-15.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8TJS 526
$77.3¥518
-26.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tajikistan
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$530TJS 4,904
$385¥2,581
37.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300TJS 2,777
$242¥1,623
23.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$773TJS 7,147
$837¥5,603
-7.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$555TJS 5,135
$474¥3,177
16.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,225TJS 11.3K
$4,619¥30.9K
-73.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$683TJS 6,321
$2,316¥15.5K
-70.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$415TJS 3,836
$1,062¥7,110
-60.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.56
3.47
550.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tajikistan: September 8, 2026
Last update for China: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $244 in Tajikistan, $295 in China. Capital cities: $629 in Dushanbe vs $957 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $379 in Tajikistan, $865 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 21% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 91% more in China.
⭐Public transport is 183% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 128% 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
Tajikistan vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Tajikistan?
At $852 per month in China and $469 in Tajikistan, there's a 82% 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 Tajikistan?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Tajikistan: 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 Tajikistan?
Rent in China is consistently higher than in Tajikistan 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 $1,000 go in China compared to Tajikistan?
In Tajikistan, $1,000 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 Tajikistan?
It depends on what you're after: Tajikistan wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
Tajikistan vs other spots: cost of living compared