For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $938 in Venezuela, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. The total is higher in Venezuela despite lower rent and utilities.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Venezuela and in China actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $938 in Venezuela versus $791 in China.
Venezuela $938
China $791
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,572 in Venezuela versus $1,251 in China.
Venezuela $1,572
China $1,251
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,206 in Venezuela versus $1,711 in China.
Venezuela $2,206
China $1,711
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Venezuela: monthly costs span $52 to $1,367, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in Venezuela.
🌍
Living in Venezuela is roughly 19% more expensive than in China on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Venezuela 31% lower, China 42% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Venezuela
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13VES 8,979
$2.98¥19.84
239.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.0VES 48.7K
$22.09¥147
148.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.93VES 8,800
$5.20¥34.66
90.96%
Cappuccino
$2.65VES 2,344
$2.97¥19.77
-10.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36VES 1,209
$0.48¥3.19
183.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14VES 1,008
$0.30¥2.01
280.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54VES 1,364
$1.08¥7.19
42.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93VES 2,596
$2.28¥15.18
28.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Venezuela
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26VES 2,005
$1.80¥11.98
25.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98VES 1,758
$1.68¥11.17
17.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58VES 1,401
$0.92¥6.14
71.74%
Eggs
$3.01VES 2,671
$1.61¥10.75
86.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.89VES 6,101
$13.38¥89.2
-48.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.82VES 6,932
$3.35¥22.31
133.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.76VES 7,765
$11.35¥75.7
-22.82%
Apples(1kg)
$5.65VES 5,003
$1.82¥12.14
210.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70VES 1,507
$1.31¥8.71
29.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86VES 1,645
$1.49¥9.91
24.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97VES 1,748
$1.27¥8.49
55.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93VES 1,708
$0.71¥4.74
171.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92VES 1,703
$0.93¥6.22
106.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41VES 1,253
$0.62¥4.12
127.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93VES 1,707
$0.56¥3.75
244.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10VES 3,629
$3.78¥25.19
8.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.07VES 8,917
$12.13¥80.9
-16.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28VES 1,132
$0.83¥5.55
54.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10VES 1,860
$1.68¥11.23
25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Venezuela
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47VES 414
$0.29¥1.92
62.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.29VES 26.8K
$17.83¥119
69.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.45VES 3,941
$1.49¥9.91
198.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.57VES 2,280
$0.37¥2.50
594.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.79VES 13.1K
$7.10¥47.31
108.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69VES 615
$1.26¥8.39
-45.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KVES 22.2M
$19.4K¥129.6K
28.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2KVES 34.7M
$17.5K¥116.9K
123.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Venezuela
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.41VES 18.1K
$54.6¥364
-62.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.47VES 9,280
$8.73¥58.2
19.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.44VES 28.7K
$11.07¥73.8
193.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Venezuela
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.42VES 33.2K
$40.77¥272
-8.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.92VES 15.0K
$14.48¥96.5
16.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89VES 4,332
$6.78¥45.19
-27.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Venezuela
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.5VES 82.8K
$517¥3,443
-81.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,118VES 3.6M
$19.8K¥132.0K
-79.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Venezuela
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3VES 44.6K
$46.53¥310
8.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.78VES 35.2K
$35.66¥238
11.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4VES 77.4K
$77.0¥513
13.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5VES 76.6K
$80.3¥535
7.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Venezuela
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$328VES 290.2K
$386¥2,572
-15.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$222VES 196.3K
$235¥1,563
-5.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$578VES 512.1K
$822¥5,478
-29.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$419VES 371.3K
$453¥3,020
-7.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$770VES 682.3K
$4,697¥31.3K
-83.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$477VES 422.8K
$2,372¥15.8K
-79.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Venezuela
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$214VES 189.4K
$1,093¥7,286
-80.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.35
3.46
545.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Venezuela: October 25, 2026
Last update for China: October 24, 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
Venezuela
$272 29%
China
$210 26.5% ↓ 22.7%$62
🏠Accommodation & Living
Venezuela
$222 23.6%
China
$235 29.6% ↑ 5.8%$13
🍽Eating Out
Venezuela
$166 17.7%
China
$88 11.1% ↓ 47%$78
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Venezuela
$119 12.7%
China
$108 13.6% ↓ 9.3%$11
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Venezuela
$63 6.8%
China
$74 9.4% ↑ 17.4%$11
🚌Getting Around
Venezuela
$49 5.3%
China
$22 2.8% ↓ 54.9%$27
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Venezuela
$47 5%
China
$54 6.9% ↑ 15.1%$7.1
🛒Groceries & Markets
Venezuela
$628 28.5%
China
$483 28.3% ↓ 23.1%$145
🏠Accommodation & Living
Venezuela
$419 19%
China
$453 26.5% ↑ 8.1%$34
🍽Eating Out
Venezuela
$609 27.6%
China
$284 16.6% ↓ 53.5%$326
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Venezuela
$264 12%
China
$239 14% ↓ 9.3%$25
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Venezuela
$74 3.4%
China
$83 4.9% ↑ 12.6%$9.3
🚌Getting Around
Venezuela
$100 4.5%
China
$45 2.6% ↓ 54.7%$55
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Venezuela
$111 5.1%
China
$123 7.2% ↑ 10.6%$12
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $239 in Venezuela, $298 in China. Capital cities: $652 in Caracas vs $933 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $205 in Venezuela, $873 in China. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 25% higher in China.
⭐Dining out costs 114% more in Venezuela.
⭐Public transport is 72% more expensive in Venezuela.
⭐Salaries are about 4.3 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
Venezuela vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Venezuela?
At $791 per month in China and $938 in Venezuela, there’s a 19% 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 Venezuela?
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 I choose between living in China and in Venezuela?
It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability; Venezuela may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.