Cost of Living in Harbin vs Beijing

Cost of living in Harbin is 20% lower than in Beijing (without rent).

Rent in Harbin is 51% cheaper than in Beijing.

Cost of living including rent in Harbin is 37% lower than in Beijing.

Food in Harbin is 8% cheaper than in Beijing.

Transport in Harbin is 42% cheaper than in Beijing.

Harbin vs. Beijing Comparision

Harbin Beijing
Cost of Living, including rent
672 $
1,067 $
Without Rent
378 $
472 $
Rent & Utilities
294 $
596 $
Food
237 $
258 $
Transport
65 $
112 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
681 $
1,802 $
Quality of Life
66
77
Population
10.0M
21.9M

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Harbin Beijing

Restaurants

Lunch menu,
inexpensive restaurant
2.86 $ 4.04 $
Dinner, for 2 17.2 $ 30.4 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 5.69 $ 5.94 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 0.71 $ 1.25 $
Capuccino 2.78 $ 3.75 $
Coke, 330ml 0.45 $ 0.53 $

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.46 $ 1.94 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.15 $ 1.44 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.95 $ 1.29 $
Eggs, 12 pack 2.14 $ 1.91 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 11.8 $ 15.6 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.2 $ 3.37 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 12.1 $ 10.6 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.2 $ 2.08 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.81 $ 1.59 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.54 $ 1.96 $
Potatoes, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.81 $ 0.84 $
Onions, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.58 $ 1.09 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 0.47 $ 0.36 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 1.03 $ 1.38 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 7.18 $ 9.28 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 0.53 $ 0.91 $
Cigarette pack 2.12 $ 3.57 $

Transport

Local transport ticket, One-way Ticket 0.28 $ 0.71 $
Monthly pass, Monthly Ticket 13.1 $ 37.3 $
Gas or petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal 1.17 $ 1.2 $
Taxi, 8 km 3.55 $ 5.07 $

Personal Care

Doctor visit, private clinic 14.1 $ 34.9 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 6.74 $ 4.63 $
Hair shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz 3.78 $ 3.6 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 1.09 $ 1.37 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.37 $ 2.02 $

Utilities per Month

Utility bill - 1 person,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
47.2 $ 34.1 $
Utility bill - family,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
72.1 $ 53.1 $
Internet plan,
+60 Mbps
18.1 $ 13.1 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 206 $ 473 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 502 $ 1,079 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 319 $ 851 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,321 $ 2,126 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,811 $ 14,636 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,312 $ 7,425 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 681 $ 1,802 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 5.74 % 4.04 %

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 21.3 $ 61.6 $
Cinema, 1 seat 5.39 $ 8.51 $
Haircut 5.57 $ 9.52 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 75.9 $ 85.6 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 86.1 $ 63.8 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 269 $ 782 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 8,754 $ 23,714 $