Cost of Living Comparison Between Yantai and Beijing (Pekin) Cost of Living Comparison Between Yantai and Beijing (Pekin)

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $630 per month in Yantai vs $1,209 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A couple spends around $933 per month in Yantai vs $1,895 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,235 per month in Yantai vs $2,580 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

Yantai is about 48% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yantai and Beijing (Pekin) are more affordable than the global median – Yantai 54% lower, Beijing (Pekin) 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 ¥20.08

$4.40 ¥29.52

-32.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.18 ¥122

$30.24 ¥203

-39.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.43 ¥29.75

$5.09 ¥34.13

-12.97%

Cappuccino

$2.75 ¥18.45

$3.40 ¥22.79

-19.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ¥3.42

$0.57 ¥3.84

-10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ¥2.16

$0.29 ¥1.95

10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 ¥7.54

$1.20 ¥8.07

-6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ¥17.28

$1.62 ¥10.87

59.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 ¥13.21

$1.89 ¥12.67

4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 ¥9.02

$1.79 ¥11.98

-25.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ¥6.03

$1.11 ¥7.42

-18.92%

Eggs

$1.30 ¥8.71

$1.99 ¥13.36

-34.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.07 ¥108

$14.81 ¥99.4

8.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 ¥21.87

$3.34 ¥22.41

-2.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.64 ¥44.53

$10.85 ¥72.8

-38.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ¥8.75

$1.97 ¥13.23

-34.01%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 ¥5.63

$1.90 ¥12.75

-55.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.08

$1.98 ¥13.26

-46.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 ¥5.21

$1.62 ¥10.86

-51.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.82

$0.76 ¥5.12

-5.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 ¥5.21

$0.84 ¥5.63

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ¥3.87

$0.68 ¥4.55

-14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.77

$0.58 ¥3.90

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.74 ¥25.10

$4.04 ¥27.13

-7.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.40 ¥76.5

$14.90 ¥100

-23.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ¥4.89

$1.08 ¥7.22

-32.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 ¥7.11

$1.89 ¥12.70

-43.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ¥1.55

$0.77 ¥5.20

-70.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.53 ¥212

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ¥9.13

$1.90 ¥12.75

-28.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ¥1.94

$0.35 ¥2.35

-17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ¥43.55

$7.37 ¥49.46

-11.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ¥8.21

$1.24 ¥8.33

-1.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.6K ¥131.3K

$19.0K ¥127.2K

3.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.5K ¥110.7K

$18.0K ¥120.7K

-8.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$44.79 ¥301

$54.3 ¥364

-17.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.87 ¥46.13

$8.91 ¥59.8

-22.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.99 ¥40.17

$14.43 ¥96.9

-58.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.63 ¥199

$40.40 ¥271

-26.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.62 ¥51.1

$23.73 ¥159

-67.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 ¥37.19

$7.23 ¥48.52

-23.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$363 ¥2,436

$661 ¥4,438

-45.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ¥108.4K

$25.3K ¥169.8K

-36.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.61 ¥118

$63.0 ¥422

-72.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.33 ¥150

$37.30 ¥250

-40.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.9 ¥617

$88.1 ¥591

4.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.6 ¥601

$122 ¥822

-26.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 ¥1,482

$959 ¥6,438

-76.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 ¥984

$536 ¥3,596

-72.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$362 ¥2,432

$2,364 ¥15.9K

-84.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 ¥984

$1,107 ¥7,426

-86.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,986 ¥20.0K

$12.3K ¥82.8K

-75.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,132 ¥34.4K

$6,466 ¥43.4K

-20.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,044 ¥7,007

$1,662 ¥11.2K

-37.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.37

3.21

4.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Yantai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $221 in Yantai versus $959 in Beijing (Pekin). Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 59% higher in Beijing (Pekin), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Yantai versus $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $233 – making Yantai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Yantai vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 92%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $945 per month in Yantai and $1,813 in Beijing (Pekin). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yantai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Yantai and $30.00 in Beijing (Pekin). That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Beijing (Pekin), though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yantai, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,209. In Yantai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yantai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Yantai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beijing (Pekin) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.