Cost of living comparison

compared to

Salmiya vs. Beijing Cost of Living Summary

Salmiya is 27.7% more expensive than Beijing.

Restaurants: pay 47.3% more in Salmiya
Groceries: pay 15.6% more in Salmiya
Transportation: pay 97.4% more in Salmiya
Housing: pay 50.3% more in Salmiya
Childcare: pay 62.5% less in Salmiya
Entertainment and Sports: pay 59.8% more in Salmiya
Clothing: pay 14.3% less in Salmiya

The cost of transportation, entertainment and sports, housing, restaurants, and groceries in Salmiya are more expensive than in Beijing. Expenses including childcare and clothing are lower in Salmiya. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in Salmiya.

Salmiya vs. Beijing Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Salmiya instead of Beijing, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 47.3% more for restaurants

	Beijing	Salmiya
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$4.21 CN¥29.74	$8.99 KWD2.760	+113.8%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$4.91 CN¥34.69	$8.18 KWD2.510	+66.6%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.48 CN¥3.39	$0.49 KWD0.150	+2.3%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.31 CN¥2.17	$0.33 KWD0.100	+6.5%
Average			+47.3%

Beijing vs. Salmiya - Cost of restaurants

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pay 15.6% more for groceries

	Beijing	Salmiya
Bread 1 loaf	$1.71 CN¥12.07	$0.71 KWD0.220	-58.5%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$7.47 CN¥52.80	$2.68 KWD0.820	-64.1%
Milk (1 gallon)	$6.64 CN¥46.96	$5.98 KWD1.830	-10.0%
Eggs 1 dozen	$1.78 CN¥12.56	$1.95 KWD0.600	+9.9%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$1.53 CN¥10.83	$3.21 KWD0.980	+109.5%
Apples (1 lb)	$0.98 CN¥6.95	$1.06 KWD0.320	+7.6%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.77 CN¥5.44	$0.88 KWD0.270	+14.6%
Oranges (1 lb)	$0.80 CN¥5.66	$0.77 KWD0.230	-4.3%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.60 CN¥4.26	$0.78 KWD0.240	+29.4%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.35 CN¥2.46	$0.60 KWD0.180	+72.6%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.41 CN¥2.92	$0.68 KWD0.210	+64.5%
Average			+15.6%

Beijing vs. Salmiya - Cost of groceries

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pay 97.4% more for transportation

	Beijing	Salmiya
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.21 CN¥29.77	$1.33 KWD0.410	-68.4%
Monthly public transit pass	$31.54 CN¥223.02	$49.05 KWD15.030	+55.5%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$18,225.66 CN¥128,857.25	$19,621.95 KWD6,012.360	+7.7%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$4.63 CN¥32.71	$22.89 KWD7.010	+394.8%
Average			+97.4%

Beijing vs. Salmiya - Cost of transportation

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pay 50.3% more for housing

	Beijing	Salmiya
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$12.93 CN¥91.43	$29.07 KWD8.910	+124.8%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$935.23 CN¥6,612.19	$1,068.31 KWD327.340	+14.2%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$504.41 CN¥3,566.20	$839.38 KWD257.200	+66.4%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$39.27 CN¥277.61	$37.65 KWD11.540	-4.1%
Average			+50.3%

Beijing vs. Salmiya - Cost of housing

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pay 62.5% less for childcare

	Beijing	Salmiya
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$710.76 CN¥5,025.17	$306.59 KWD93.940	-56.9%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$23,242.73 CN¥164,328.40	$7,442.33 KWD2,280.400	-68.0%
Average			-62.5%

Beijing vs. Salmiya - Cost of childcare

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pay 59.8% more for entertainment and sports

	Beijing	Salmiya
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.12 CN¥7.93	$1.64 KWD0.500	+45.8%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$2.90 CN¥20.52	$5.04 KWD1.540	+73.7%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$4.21 CN¥29.74	$2.94 KWD0.900	-30.0%
Monthly membership at local gym	$57.84 CN¥408.91	$158.07 KWD48.430	+173.3%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$8.41 CN¥59.47	$11.45 KWD3.510	+36.1%
Average			+59.8%

Beijing vs. Salmiya - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 14.3% less for clothing

	Beijing	Salmiya
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$62.30 CN¥440.46	$39.65 KWD12.150	-36.4%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$36.37 CN¥257.16	$38.70 KWD11.860	+6.4%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$81.74 CN¥577.91	$85.03 KWD26.050	+4.0%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$105.53 CN¥746.11	$72.67 KWD22.270	-31.1%
Average			-14.3%

Beijing vs. Salmiya - Cost of clothing

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025

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