Cost of living comparison

Salmiya, Kuwait

compared to

Beijing, China

Beijing vs. Salmiya Cost of Living Summary

Beijing is 23.8% more expensive than Salmiya.

Restaurants: pay 24.3% less in Beijing
Groceries: pay 15.7% more in Beijing
Transportation: pay 29.6% more in Beijing
Housing: pay 14.7% less in Beijing
Childcare: pay 2.8 times more in Beijing
Entertainment and Sports: pay 19.9% less in Beijing
Clothing: pay 4.7% more in Beijing

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

Beijing vs. Salmiya Cost Breakdown

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

Display currency: USD

pay 24.3% less for restaurants

	Salmiya	Beijing
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$8.13 KWD2.490	$4.17 CN¥30.06	-48.6%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$7.64 KWD2.340	$5.57 CN¥40.07	-27.2%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.48 KWD0.150	$0.50 CN¥3.57	+4.3%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.42 KWD0.130	$0.31 CN¥2.23	-25.8%
Average			-24.3%

Salmiya vs. Beijing - Cost of restaurants

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pay 15.7% more for groceries

	Salmiya	Beijing
Bread 1 loaf	$1.00 KWD0.310	$1.43 CN¥10.33	+43.0%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$2.63 KWD0.810	$7.31 CN¥52.61	+178.0%
Milk (1 gallon)	$5.77 KWD1.770	$7.17 CN¥51.62	+24.2%
Eggs 1 dozen	$2.02 KWD0.620	$1.74 CN¥12.51	-13.8%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.92 KWD0.900	$1.53 CN¥11.02	-47.5%
Apples (1 lb)	$0.98 KWD0.300	$0.92 CN¥6.60	-6.1%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.72 KWD0.220	$0.71 CN¥5.12	-0.6%
Oranges (1 lb)	$0.77 KWD0.240	$0.89 CN¥6.39	+15.6%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.71 KWD0.220	$0.58 CN¥4.20	-18.5%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.49 KWD0.150	$0.37 CN¥2.65	-25.3%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.38 KWD0.120	$0.47 CN¥3.39	+23.6%
Average			+15.7%

Salmiya vs. Beijing - Cost of groceries

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pay 29.6% more for transportation

	Salmiya	Beijing
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$1.28 KWD0.390	$4.36 CN¥31.39	+239.7%
Monthly public transit pass	$48.77 KWD14.970	$33.40 CN¥240.44	-31.5%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$22,111.30 KWD6,785.520	$20,872.18 CN¥150,275.51	-5.6%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$29.26 KWD8.980	$4.59 CN¥33.06	-84.3%
Average			+29.6%

Salmiya vs. Beijing - Cost of transportation

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pay 14.7% less for housing

	Salmiya	Beijing
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$26.66 KWD8.180	$13.28 CN¥95.64	-50.2%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$926.72 KWD284.390	$929.88 CN¥6,694.94	+0.3%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$677.43 KWD207.890	$492.44 CN¥3,545.49	-27.3%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$35.47 KWD10.890	$42.04 CN¥302.68	+18.5%
Average			-14.7%

Salmiya vs. Beijing - Cost of housing

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pay 2.8 times more for childcare

	Salmiya	Beijing
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$464.57 KWD142.570	$763.49 CN¥5,497.00	+64.3%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$5,934.28 KWD1,821.110	$22,913.01 CN¥164,969.12	+286.1%
Average			+175.2%

Salmiya vs. Beijing - Cost of childcare

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pay 19.9% less for entertainment and sports

	Salmiya	Beijing
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.63 KWD0.500	$1.11 CN¥8.01	-31.5%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$5.24 KWD1.610	$3.60 CN¥25.94	-31.2%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$3.09 KWD0.950	$3.48 CN¥25.05	+12.6%
Monthly membership at local gym	$84.90 KWD26.060	$65.46 CN¥471.27	-22.9%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$11.38 KWD3.490	$8.35 CN¥60.11	-26.6%
Average			-19.9%

Salmiya vs. Beijing - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 4.7% more for clothing

	Salmiya	Beijing
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$42.27 KWD12.970	$62.65 CN¥451.10	+48.2%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$51.44 KWD15.780	$34.69 CN¥249.74	-32.6%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$93.02 KWD28.540	$83.45 CN¥600.85	-10.3%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$94.84 KWD29.100	$107.64 CN¥774.96	+13.5%
Average			+4.7%

Salmiya vs. Beijing - 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: June 2025

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