🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $319 in Tajikistan versus $713 in China.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $533 in Tajikistan versus $1,132 in China.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $747 in Tajikistan versus $1,551 in China.
🙂Living in Tajikistan costs about 55% less than in China on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Tajikistan76% lower, China47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.10TJS 56.8
$2.86¥19.36
113.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.00TJS 140
$23.29¥158
-35.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.67TJS 80.8
$4.83¥32.66
79.50%
Cappuccino
$1.58TJS 14.70
$3.04¥20.52
-48.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69TJS 6.47
$0.45¥3.03
53.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37TJS 3.41
$0.27¥1.81
37.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.06TJS 9.92
$0.99¥6.71
7.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60TJS 14.93
$2.03¥13.74
-21.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98TJS 9.17
$1.75¥11.86
-44.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61TJS 5.67
$1.67¥11.31
-63.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01TJS 18.77
$0.97¥6.56
107.22%
Eggs
$1.77TJS 16.45
$1.54¥10.45
14.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64TJS 99.1
$13.30¥89.9
-20.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10TJS 38.16
$3.21¥21.69
27.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.80TJS 82.0
$10.79¥73.0
-18.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54TJS 14.37
$1.81¥12.27
-14.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25TJS 20.96
$1.31¥8.84
71.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.45TJS 22.80
$1.50¥10.15
63.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03TJS 9.59
$1.14¥7.74
-9.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75TJS 7.00
$0.73¥4.90
2.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50TJS 4.67
$0.87¥5.86
-42.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77TJS 7.22
$0.57¥3.85
35.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56TJS 5.20
$0.54¥3.63
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94TJS 18.11
$3.53¥23.88
-45.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.31TJS 96.1
$11.71¥79.2
-11.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22TJS 11.37
$0.84¥5.67
45.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68TJS 15.69
$1.67¥11.29
0.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Tajikistan
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24TJS 2.21
$0.41¥2.75
-41.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.51TJS 70.0
$20.78¥141
-63.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94TJS 8.77
$1.36¥9.21
-30.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29TJS 2.74
$0.33¥2.21
-12.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.12TJS 57.0
$6.86¥46.40
-10.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99TJS 9.20
$1.12¥7.57
-11.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5KTJS 181.5K
$19.2K¥129.8K
1.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KTJS 193.1K
$16.9K¥114.4K
22.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.1TJS 476
$51.8¥350
-1.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.76TJS 119
$9.85¥66.6
29.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.44TJS 209
$11.13¥75.3
101.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.77TJS 296
$39.10¥264
-18.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.71TJS 118
$14.89¥101
-14.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86TJS 45.27
$6.25¥42.24
-22.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$85.6TJS 798
$404¥2,732
-78.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,472TJS 78.9K
$17.8K¥120.5K
-52.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.20TJS 272
$46.11¥312
-36.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.31TJS 366
$32.27¥218
21.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.5TJS 573
$72.7¥491
-15.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.4TJS 516
$72.9¥493
-23.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tajikistan
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430TJS 4,010
$445¥3,009
-3.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200TJS 1,865
$255¥1,727
-21.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$665TJS 6,198
$927¥6,266
-28.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453TJS 4,224
$532¥3,600
-14.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,206TJS 11.2K
$4,943¥33.4K
-75.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$652TJS 6,076
$2,492¥16.9K
-73.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$451TJS 4,206
$1,057¥7,148
-57.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25.33
4.06
523.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tajikistan: June 7, 2026
Last update for China: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $227 in Tajikistan, $286 in China. Capital cities: $441 in Dushanbe vs $913 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $407 in Tajikistan, $862 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 26% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 110% more in China.
⭐Public transport is 500% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 112% higher 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 $871 per month in China and $387 in Tajikistan, there's a 125% 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?
Tajikistan 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 Tajikistan?
Rent in China beats 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 vs Tajikistan?
In Tajikistan, $1,000 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 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