Cost of living comparison
Des Moines is 2.1 times more expensive than Beijing.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.3 times more in Des Moines
- Groceries
-
pay 90.8% more in Des Moines
- Transportation
-
pay 57.2% more in Des Moines
- Housing
-
pay 2.5 times more in Des Moines
- Childcare
-
pay 14.7% more in Des Moines
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 2.1 times more in Des Moines
- Clothing
-
pay 13.5% more in Des Moines
The cost of restaurants, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, and childcare in Des Moines are more expensive than in Beijing. Notably, restaurants, housing, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Des Moines.
If you lived in Des Moines instead of Beijing, you would:
pay 4.3 times more for restaurants
|
Beijing
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.17
CN¥30.32
|
$16.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.57
CN¥40.43
|
$10.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.50
CN¥3.60
|
$2.36
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.31
CN¥2.25
|
$2.06
|
|
pay 90.8% more for groceries
|
Beijing
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.43
CN¥10.42
|
$2.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.31
CN¥53.08
|
$5.99
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.17
CN¥52.08
|
$3.92
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.74
CN¥12.63
|
$3.09
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.53
CN¥11.12
|
$4.38
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.92
CN¥6.66
|
$2.10
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.71
CN¥5.17
|
$0.73
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.89
CN¥6.44
|
$1.59
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.58
CN¥4.23
|
$1.74
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.37
CN¥2.68
|
$0.75
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.47
CN¥3.42
|
$1.36
|
|
pay 57.2% more for transportation
|
Beijing
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.36
CN¥31.67
|
$3.07
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$33.40
CN¥242.57
|
$58.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,872.18
CN¥151,607.16
|
$26,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$4.59
CN¥33.35
|
$11.94
|
|
pay 2.5 times more for housing
|
Beijing
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$13.28
CN¥96.49
|
$53.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$929.88
CN¥6,754.26
|
$1,215.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$492.44
CN¥3,576.90
|
$912.50
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$42.04
CN¥305.36
|
$115.16
|
|
pay 14.7% more for childcare
|
Beijing
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$763.49
CN¥5,545.72
|
$1,357.76
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,913.01
CN¥166,430.97
|
$11,812.00
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for entertainment and sports
|
Beijing
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.11
CN¥8.09
|
$5.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.60
CN¥26.17
|
$4.51
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.48
CN¥25.27
|
$7.14
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$65.46
CN¥475.45
|
$66.67
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.35
CN¥60.64
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 13.5% more for clothing
|
Beijing
|
Des Moines
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$62.65
CN¥455.10
|
$56.43
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$34.69
CN¥251.95
|
$42.50
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.45
CN¥606.17
|
$90.50
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$107.64
CN¥781.83
|
$143.00
|
|
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