Cost of living comparison
Beijing is 41.2% cheaper than Melbourne.
- Restaurants
-
pay 71.5% less in Beijing
- Groceries
-
pay 31.5% less in Beijing
- Transportation
-
pay 46.0% less in Beijing
- Housing
-
pay 58.8% less in Beijing
- Childcare
-
pay 24.3% less in Beijing
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 37.8% less in Beijing
- Clothing
-
pay 18.8% less in Beijing
Expenses including restaurants, housing, transportation, entertainment and sports, groceries, and childcare are lower in Beijing.
If you lived in Beijing instead of Melbourne, you would:
pay 71.5% less for restaurants
|
Melbourne
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.48
A$25.04
|
$4.17
CN¥29.92
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.89
A$15.03
|
$5.57
CN¥39.90
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.65
A$4.02
|
$0.50
CN¥3.56
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.26
A$3.43
|
$0.31
CN¥2.22
|
|
pay 31.5% less for groceries
|
Melbourne
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.52
A$3.84
|
$1.43
CN¥10.28
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.55
A$6.92
|
$7.31
CN¥52.38
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.26
A$8.00
|
$7.17
CN¥51.40
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.09
A$6.21
|
$1.74
CN¥12.46
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.02
A$6.11
|
$1.53
CN¥10.97
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.42
A$2.16
|
$0.92
CN¥6.58
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.21
A$1.85
|
$0.71
CN¥5.10
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.19
A$1.80
|
$0.89
CN¥6.36
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.63
A$2.48
|
$0.58
CN¥4.18
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.01
A$1.53
|
$0.37
CN¥2.64
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.95
A$1.45
|
$0.47
CN¥3.38
|
|
pay 46.0% less for transportation
|
Melbourne
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.69
A$7.13
|
$4.36
CN¥31.26
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$118.63
A$180.32
|
$33.40
CN¥239.40
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$29,276.08
A$44,501.84
|
$20,872.18
CN¥149,623.26
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.44
A$29.55
|
$4.59
CN¥32.92
|
|
pay 58.8% less for housing
|
Melbourne
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$52.42
A$79.69
|
$13.28
CN¥95.22
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,479.56
A$2,249.04
|
$929.88
CN¥6,665.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,242.77
A$1,889.10
|
$492.44
CN¥3,530.10
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$112.74
A$171.37
|
$42.04
CN¥301.37
|
|
pay 24.3% less for childcare
|
Melbourne
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,828.91
A$2,780.08
|
$763.49
CN¥5,473.15
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$20,887.75
A$31,750.95
|
$22,913.01
CN¥164,253.09
|
|
pay 37.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
Melbourne
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.91
A$12.02
|
$1.11
CN¥7.98
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.46
A$5.26
|
$3.60
CN¥25.83
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$29.66
A$45.08
|
$3.48
CN¥24.94
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$52.73
A$80.15
|
$65.46
CN¥469.23
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.66
A$22.29
|
$8.35
CN¥59.85
|
|
pay 18.8% less for clothing
|
Melbourne
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$77.15
A$117.28
|
$62.65
CN¥449.14
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$49.87
A$75.81
|
$34.69
CN¥248.65
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$107.61
A$163.58
|
$83.45
CN¥598.24
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.32
A$169.21
|
$107.64
CN¥771.60
|
|
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