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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $737 per month in Zhangjiakou vs $1,067 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,167 per month in Zhangjiakou vs $1,797 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,596 per month in Zhangjiakou vs $2,526 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

Zhangjiakou is about 31% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zhangjiakou and Beijing (Pekin) are more affordable than the global median – Zhangjiakou 45% lower, Beijing (Pekin) 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ¥14.19
$4.09 ¥27.96
-49.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.53 ¥188
$28.09 ¥192
-1.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.58 ¥38.12
$5.36 ¥36.62
4.10%
Cappuccino
$3.23 ¥22.06
$3.05 ¥20.81
5.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.99
$0.46 ¥3.14
-4.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.01
$0.30 ¥2.05
-3.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 ¥5.85
$1.13 ¥7.70
-23.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 ¥13.64
$2.12 ¥14.46
-5.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 ¥11.50
$1.71 ¥11.71
-1.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 ¥12.77
$1.65 ¥11.27
13.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ¥6.82
$1.12 ¥7.64
-10.71%
Eggs
$0.91 ¥6.24
$1.67 ¥11.39
-45.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.86 ¥94.6
$15.67 ¥107
-11.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.86 ¥19.53
$3.22 ¥21.99
-11.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.22 ¥63.0
$9.64 ¥65.9
-4.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.27 ¥8.67
$2.10 ¥14.35
-39.52%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 ¥5.82
$1.59 ¥10.89
-46.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 ¥9.38
$1.80 ¥12.27
-23.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 ¥7.50
$1.34 ¥9.13
-17.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.37
$0.85 ¥5.79
-7.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ¥4.00
$0.90 ¥6.17
-34.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ¥3.98
$0.72 ¥4.90
-19.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥5.48
$0.57 ¥3.87
40.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57 ¥24.36
$3.58 ¥24.42
-0.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.34 ¥91.1
$10.60 ¥72.4
25.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ¥7.88
$0.85 ¥5.82
35.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ¥16.18
$1.74 ¥11.88
36.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ¥1.84
$0.59 ¥4.01
-54.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.62 ¥114
$31.30 ¥214
-46.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 ¥6.33
$1.80 ¥12.26
-48.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 ¥2.08
$0.35 ¥2.40
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.11 ¥41.75
$10.34 ¥70.6
-40.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.47
$1.14 ¥7.78
-4.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.5K ¥112.4K
$18.8K ¥128.4K
-12.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2K ¥131.4K
$15.8K ¥107.9K
21.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.2 ¥589
$51.2 ¥350
68.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.77 ¥46.27
$9.00 ¥61.5
-24.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.12 ¥48.63
$12.44 ¥84.9
-42.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.62 ¥284
$49.97 ¥341
-16.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.66 ¥93.3
$18.24 ¥125
-25.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.36 ¥43.46
$8.51 ¥58.1
-25.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$313 ¥2,140
$683 ¥4,665
-54.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,938 ¥33.7K
$23.8K ¥162.9K
-79.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.58 ¥270
$61.5 ¥420
-35.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.43 ¥201
$34.26 ¥234
-14.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.3 ¥528
$77.7 ¥531
-0.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.2 ¥377
$102 ¥695
-45.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$276 ¥1,882
$914 ¥6,242
-69.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 ¥1,300
$458 ¥3,129
-58.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$601 ¥4,103
$1,918 ¥13.1K
-68.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 ¥2,439
$1,085 ¥7,409
-67.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,997 ¥20.5K
$12.1K ¥82.7K
-75.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,996 ¥13.6K
$6,141 ¥41.9K
-67.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhangjiakou
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$375 ¥2,564
$1,581 ¥10.8K
-76.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.35
3.64
19.51%

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

Last update for Zhangjiakou: April 13, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $276 in Zhangjiakou versus $914 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 321% 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 $28 in Zhangjiakou versus $28 in Beijing (Pekin). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $214 – making Zhangjiakou 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
Zhangjiakou vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beijing (Pekin) cheaper than Zhangjiakou?
Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,106 per month in Zhangjiakou and $1,601 in Beijing (Pekin). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhangjiakou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Zhangjiakou or Beijing (Pekin)?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Zhangjiakou and $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin). That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Zhangjiakou vs Beijing (Pekin)?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $737 in Zhangjiakou and $1,067 in Beijing (Pekin). The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Zhangjiakou or Beijing (Pekin)?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zhangjiakou, where all-in costs run around $737, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,067. In Zhangjiakou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zhangjiakou or Beijing (Pekin) more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhangjiakou – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zhangjiakou. 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.

Zhangjiakou vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities