Cost of Living Comparison Between Yemen and ChinaCost of Living Comparison Between Yemen and China
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Yemen versus $712 in China.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,072 in Yemen versus $1,132 in China.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,518 in Yemen versus $1,551 in China.
🙂Living in Yemen costs about 12% less than in China on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Yemen53% lower, China47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yemen
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.45YER 1,776
$2.81¥18.98
165.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.23YER 6,488
$23.30¥158
16.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.22YER 2,436
$5.01¥33.87
103.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93YER 698
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79YER 903
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.21YER 1,002
$3.01¥20.38
39.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79YER 428
$0.45¥3.03
297.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70YER 166
$0.29¥1.97
141.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.95¥6.41
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.05¥13.87
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yemen
China
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.64YER 630
$1.76¥11.87
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41YER 337
$1.62¥10.98
-12.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.11YER 980
$0.95¥6.45
332.63%
Eggs
$4.83YER 1,152
$1.56¥10.55
209.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.38YER 2,234
$13.06¥88.3
-28.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.46YER 2,492
$3.28¥22.17
218.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.76YER 6,377
$10.65¥72.0
151.27%
Apples(1kg)
$5.72YER 1,364
$1.78¥12.03
221.35%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01YER 479
$1.24¥8.42
62.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18YER 996
$1.50¥10.12
178.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.69YER 641
$1.15¥7.79
133.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43YER 579
$0.75¥5.07
224.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03YER 483
$0.86¥5.81
136.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67YER 159
$0.62¥4.17
8.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05YER 250
$0.56¥3.81
87.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.49YER 592
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52YER 362
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80YER 667
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.89YER 1,166
$3.51¥23.76
39.32%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.66¥78.9
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.80¥5.40
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.66¥11.25
-
🚌 Getting Around
Yemen
China
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39YER 93.4
$0.43¥2.93
-9.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$82.2YER 19.6K
$20.86¥141
294.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.49YER 592
$1.37¥9.26
81.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.00YER 953
$0.35¥2.38
1042.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.03YER 1,436
$6.63¥44.82
-9.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.96YER 706
$1.14¥7.69
159.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.3KYER 3.9M
$19.2K¥129.7K
-14.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.6KYER 10.6M
$16.8K¥113.4K
165.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yemen
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.0YER 21.0K
$51.2¥346
71.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.41YER 3,910
$10.16¥68.7
61.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.1YER 12.9K
$11.51¥77.9
370.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yemen
China
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.2YER 15.3K
$40.53¥274
58.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.71YER 3,505
$15.05¥102
-2.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79YER 1,380
$6.10¥41.26
-5.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yemen
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$78.4YER 18.7K
$402¥2,719
-80.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,948YER 464.2K
$17.7K¥119.5K
-88.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yemen
China
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.9YER 15.2K
$45.57¥308
40.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$103YER 24.6K
$33.26¥225
210.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.7YER 14.0K
$72.6¥491
-19.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9YER 19.3K
$74.5¥503
8.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yemen
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199YER 47.3K
$429¥2,903
-53.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$125YER 29.8K
$257¥1,739
-51.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$510YER 121.5K
$895¥6,055
-43.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368YER 87.6K
$541¥3,660
-32.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,251YER 298.2K
$5,015¥33.9K
-75.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,007YER 239.9K
$2,469¥16.7K
-59.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yemen
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$297YER 70.8K
$1,055¥7,132
-71.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.31
4.06
203.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yemen: May 31, 2026
Last update for China: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $69.0 in Yemen, $286 in China. Capital cities: $167 in Sanaa vs $916 in Beijing (Pekin).
💰National salary averages: $313 in Yemen, $861 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 314% higher in China.
⭐Public transport is 29% more expensive in China.
⭐Salaries are 175% higher in China, giving China stronger purchasing power.
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
Yemen vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Yemen?
At $865 per month in China and $701 in Yemen, there's a 23% 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 Yemen?
Yemen 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 Yemen?
Rent in China beats Yemen 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 $2,000 go in China vs Yemen?
In Yemen, $2,000 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 Yemen?
It depends on what you're after. Yemen wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.