Cost of living comparison
Beijing is 17.1% cheaper than Seoul.
- Restaurants
-
pay 46.9% less in Beijing
- Groceries
-
pay 52.4% less in Beijing
- Transportation
-
pay 23.9% less in Beijing
- Housing
-
pay 25.8% less in Beijing
- Childcare
-
pay 54.1% more in Beijing
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 15.4% less in Beijing
- Clothing
-
pay 9.3% less in Beijing
Expenses including groceries, restaurants, housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, and clothing are lower in Beijing.
If you lived in Beijing instead of Seoul, you would:
pay 46.9% less for restaurants
|
Seoul
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.88
₩11,465
|
$4.17
CN¥30.42
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.09
₩8,859
|
$5.57
CN¥40.56
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.59
₩2,309
|
$0.50
CN¥3.62
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.84
₩1,224
|
$0.31
CN¥2.25
|
|
pay 52.4% less for groceries
|
Seoul
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.10
₩4,504
|
$1.43
CN¥10.45
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.52
₩9,494
|
$7.31
CN¥53.25
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$8.06
₩11,727
|
$7.17
CN¥52.25
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.06
₩4,451
|
$1.74
CN¥12.67
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.74
₩6,893
|
$1.53
CN¥11.16
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.30
₩4,799
|
$0.92
CN¥6.68
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.55
₩2,255
|
$0.71
CN¥5.18
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.44
₩3,552
|
$0.89
CN¥6.46
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.68
₩3,907
|
$0.58
CN¥4.25
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.73
₩2,518
|
$0.37
CN¥2.68
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.39
₩2,018
|
$0.47
CN¥3.43
|
|
pay 23.9% less for transportation
|
Seoul
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.59
₩6,677
|
$4.36
CN¥31.78
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$44.40
₩64,621
|
$33.40
CN¥243.38
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,023.07
₩39,325,801
|
$20,872.18
CN¥152,112.26
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.02
₩11,673
|
$4.59
CN¥33.46
|
|
pay 25.8% less for housing
|
Seoul
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$22.27
₩32,415
|
$13.28
CN¥96.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$883.18
₩1,285,262
|
$929.88
CN¥6,776.77
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$490.54
₩713,866
|
$492.44
CN¥3,588.82
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$133.35
₩194,064
|
$42.04
CN¥306.38
|
|
pay 54.1% more for childcare
|
Seoul
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$385.48
₩560,977
|
$763.49
CN¥5,564.19
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$20,782.92
₩30,244,712
|
$22,913.01
CN¥166,985.46
|
|
pay 15.4% less for entertainment and sports
|
Seoul
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.58
₩5,211
|
$1.11
CN¥8.11
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.60
₩5,242
|
$3.60
CN¥26.26
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.22
₩4,690
|
$3.48
CN¥25.35
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$53.73
₩78,190
|
$65.46
CN¥477.03
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.74
₩15,634
|
$8.35
CN¥60.84
|
|
pay 9.3% less for clothing
|
Seoul
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$59.13
₩86,047
|
$62.65
CN¥456.61
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$46.64
₩67,880
|
$34.69
CN¥252.79
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$86.69
₩126,162
|
$83.45
CN¥608.19
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$124.89
₩181,749
|
$107.64
CN¥784.43
|
|
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