🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $320 in Tajikistan versus $712 in China.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $530 in Tajikistan versus $1,131 in China.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $739 in Tajikistan versus $1,549 in China.
🌍Living in Tajikistan costs about 55% less than in China on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Tajikistan 76% lower, China 47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.84TJS 54.0
$2.77¥18.72
110.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.88TJS 138
$24.05¥162
-38.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68TJS 80.3
$4.73¥31.93
83.51%
Cappuccino
$1.62TJS 15.00
$3.08¥20.78
-47.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64TJS 5.94
$0.44¥3.00
45.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37TJS 3.38
$0.29¥1.98
27.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.11TJS 10.24
$1.01¥6.80
9.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68TJS 15.54
$2.08¥14.03
-19.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94TJS 8.67
$1.83¥12.39
-48.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56TJS 5.16
$1.62¥10.94
-65.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02TJS 18.72
$0.97¥6.58
108.25%
Eggs
$1.74TJS 16.10
$1.61¥10.90
8.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.84TJS 100
$13.34¥90.1
-18.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31TJS 39.88
$3.37¥22.75
27.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.92TJS 82.4
$10.68¥72.2
-16.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54TJS 14.20
$1.81¥12.26
-14.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24TJS 20.70
$1.25¥8.44
79.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46TJS 22.77
$1.46¥9.88
68.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04TJS 9.59
$1.15¥7.73
-9.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.83TJS 7.65
$0.73¥4.92
13.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53TJS 4.95
$0.89¥5.99
-40.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75TJS 6.90
$0.60¥4.05
25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60TJS 5.50
$0.53¥3.59
13.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97TJS 18.18
$3.39¥22.93
-41.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.58TJS 107
$11.73¥79.3
-1.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18TJS 10.87
$0.77¥5.23
53.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75TJS 16.19
$1.63¥10.98
7.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Tajikistan
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26TJS 2.42
$0.41¥2.77
-36.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.55TJS 69.8
$21.24¥143
-64.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95TJS 8.80
$1.35¥9.13
-29.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29TJS 2.69
$0.36¥2.40
-19.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.02TJS 55.7
$6.70¥45.26
-10.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92TJS 8.47
$1.18¥7.98
-22.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KTJS 184.2K
$19.8K¥133.4K
0.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KTJS 191.2K
$16.5K¥111.7K
25.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.5TJS 476
$51.7¥349
-0.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.77TJS 118
$10.09¥68.2
26.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.03TJS 213
$11.38¥76.9
102.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.05TJS 296
$39.24¥265
-18.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.39TJS 115
$14.84¥100
-16.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.82TJS 44.57
$6.30¥42.56
-23.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$85.7TJS 792
$414¥2,795
-79.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,449TJS 78.1K
$17.4K¥117.6K
-51.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.57TJS 264
$46.77¥316
-38.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.37TJS 364
$33.08¥223
19.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.9TJS 581
$70.9¥479
-11.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0TJS 518
$74.5¥503
-24.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tajikistan
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425TJS 3,929
$440¥2,972
-3.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$201TJS 1,855
$253¥1,707
-20.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$662TJS 6,123
$911¥6,153
-27.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458TJS 4,237
$531¥3,584
-13.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,232TJS 11.4K
$4,778¥32.3K
-74.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$688TJS 6,362
$2,403¥16.2K
-71.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tajikistan
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$428TJS 3,952
$1,058¥7,144
-59.58%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for China: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $224 in Tajikistan, $287 in China. Capital cities: $442 in Dushanbe vs $909 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $401 in Tajikistan, $857 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 28% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 110% more in China.
⭐Public transport is 500% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 114% 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 $873 per month in China and $388 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?
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