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Cities / Beijing / Cost of Living

🇨🇳 Cost of Living in Beijing

How much you'll actually spend — not what travel blogs tell you

Monthly budget · Single · city center

$1,304/mo

Just you and your questionable life decisions

Rent(1BR)$1,059
Groceries & eating out$132
Transport$35
Utilities & phones$77
Average local salary (after tax)$1,558/mo

The real monthly damage

Rent — the biggest line item

1BR, city center$1,059/mo
1BR, outside center$550/mo
3BR, city center$2,330/mo
3BR, outside center$1,193/mo

Source: Numbeo. Prices in USD unless toggled.

Grocery prices — the supermarket reality check

Milk (1L)$1.98
Bread (loaf)$1.67
Eggs (12)$2.09
Rice (1kg)$1.20
Chicken (1kg)$3.37
Apples (1kg)$2.19
Tomatoes (1kg)$1.56
Potatoes (1kg)$0.80
Water (1.5L)$0.56
Wine (mid-range)$10
Beer (0.5L)$0.92

Eating out — because you won't cook every night

Cheap meal$4.41
Mid-range dinner for 2$28
Cappuccino$3.10
Beer (draught)$1.10
Coke (0.33L)$0.57

Getting around — or trying to

Monthly pass$35
Single ride$0.74
Taxi start$1.91
Taxi per km$0.34
Gasoline (1L)$1.17

30-day trial run

What a month-long scouting trip costs before you commit to anything permanent.

Short-term rental$1,589
Food (2 meals + coffee/day)$358
Transport (2 rides/day)$44
SIM card$10
Total 30 days$2,001

Beijing vs. similar cities

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live in Beijing?

A single person can expect to spend about $1,304/month in Beijing, including rent in the city center, groceries, transport, and utilities. Couples need roughly $1,481/month.

What is the average salary in Beijing?

The average monthly net salary (after tax) in Beijing is about $1,558, according to Numbeo data.

Is Beijing expensive compared to other cities?

Compared to similar cities: Haifa ($2,257/mo), Bali ($1,284/mo), Shanghai ($1,146/mo), Seoul ($1,385/mo), Tokyo ($1,893/mo). Beijing comes in at $1,304/mo for a single person.

Cost data sourced from Numbeo. Updated periodically.