Cost of Living & Income: Beijing vs Durban

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Beijing and Durban are averages compiled from millions of user-contributed income and living-cost entries worldwide over the last 12 months (updated July 2026), converted to Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥). Green 🟢 marks a higher income or a lower price. Source: NUMBEO, which is widely cited by international media; the Seapoe team compiled, translated and processed the data.

Income comparison

MetricBeijingDurbanBeijing vs Durban
💰 Average monthly net salary¥10,657¥8,299Beijing earns 1.3× the salary in Durban

Daily expenses

MetricBeijingDurbanBeijing vs Durban
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥30¥52Durban costs 1.72× the price in Beijing
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥264Durban costs 1.32× the price in Beijing
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥37Durban costs 1.06× the price in Beijing
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥387.9¥1,039.6Durban costs 2.68× the price in Beijing
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥98.2¥260.2Durban costs 2.65× the price in Beijing
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥64.9¥248.2Durban costs 3.83× the price in Beijing
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥263.0¥213.2Beijing costs 1.23× the price in Durban
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥50.0¥46.5Beijing costs 1.08× the price in Durban
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.5¥9.9Durban costs 1.16× the price in Beijing

Supermarket prices

MetricBeijingDurbanBeijing vs Durban
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥74.5¥48.5Beijing costs 1.54× the price in Durban
🥚 Eggs (12)¥13.9¥16.6Durban costs 1.19× the price in Beijing
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥12.5¥8.5Beijing costs 1.47× the price in Durban
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥11.8¥6.7Beijing costs 1.77× the price in Durban
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥14.0¥12.9Beijing costs 1.09× the price in Durban
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥5.3¥10.4Durban costs 1.95× the price in Beijing
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥10.9¥11.4Durban costs 1.05× the price in Beijing
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.7¥9.8Durban costs 1.46× the price in Beijing
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥100.0¥33.0Beijing costs 3.03× the price in Durban

Rent & property prices

MetricBeijingDurbanBeijing vs Durban
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥6,538¥3,101Beijing costs 2.11× the price in Durban
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,506¥2,530Beijing costs 1.39× the price in Durban
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥16,500¥5,850Beijing costs 2.82× the price in Durban
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥7,584¥5,285Beijing costs 1.44× the price in Durban
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥83,613¥6,092Beijing costs 13.73× the price in Durban
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥42,337¥3,979Beijing costs 10.64× the price in Durban