300x85.png)
Hong Kong
Singapore
China
Dubai
Thailand
United Kingdom
Mexico
To live abroad in Beijing, you will need to know the cost of living, how to obtain a visa, and be prepared for cultural differences. Whether you are an expat, a digital nomad, or hoping to retire abroad, knowing about healthcare and other fundamentals will make moving proceed more smoothly.
Discover the world’s top
health insurers.
Compare quotes with
a click of the button.
Pacific Prime is here to help! We’ve created this article to make it easy for you to learn the expenses you can expect to pay in Beijing. By the end of this guide, you will have a solid idea of whether or not Beijing is right for you.
You’ll also want to check out our guide to living abroad in Asia and our breakdown of living expenses in China!
A Guide For Expats About Living Abroad In Beijing
This guide for expats will tell you all you need to know about living abroad in Beijing. We’ll discuss the average expenses for rent, food, transportation, and healthcare. We’ll share average salaries made in Beijing and even throw in some tips for adjusting to life there as an American.
We’ve also got some great info about the various visas available to foreigners that can grant you entrance into China. This part is very important since you’re not allowed to enter China without a visa, even as a short-term tourist.
By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to read about the best places to live in Beijing!
Cost Of Living In Beijing Vs. New York City
The average cost of living in Beijing for one person is $1,254 a month vs. $3,723 a month for one person living in New York City. For a family living in Beijing, the cost of living is about $3,503, compared to $8,021 for a family in New York.
These averages come from crowd-sourced data, and they are intended to give you a general idea of what you may spend, not exact prices.
To understand how much you might spend in Beijing, we will break down the housing, food, and transportation living expenses and compare them to those in New York City.
Housing Expenses In Beijing Vs. New York City
On average, one person in Beijing spends $730 a month on housing expenses while one person in New York City spends $2,426 a month. A family on average spends $1,543 a month on rent in Beijing compared to a family in New York who spends $3,744 a month on rent.
Here are some average prices:
- 1-bedroom apartment downtown: $1,041 in Beijing vs. $3,237 in NYC
- A cheap 1-bedroom apartment: $592 in Beijing vs. $2,007 in NYC
Food Expenses In Beijing Vs. New York City
Food expenses in Beijing cost on average $293 a month vs. food expenses in New York City which cost $752 on average. Eating out is drastically cheaper in Beijing than in New York, and groceries are often over double the price in New York than in Beijing.
Eating out averages:
- Lunch: $4.70 in Beijing vs. $20.70 in NYC
- Dinner: $34.80 in Beijing vs. $84.30 in NYC
- Fast food meal: $5.93 in Beijing vs. $10.90 in NYC
Grocery averages:
- 1 qt of milk: $1.98 in Beijing vs. $1.26 in NYC
- 1.1 lb of bread: $2.03 in Beijing vs. $4.16 in NYC
- 2.2 lb of rice: $1.56 in Beijing vs. $6.09 in NYC
- 12 eggs: $2.04 in Beijing vs. $5.37 in NYC
- 2.2 lb of chicken: $3.83 in Beijing vs. $17.30 in NYC
- 2.2 lb of apples: $2.06 in Beijing vs. $5.52 in NYC
Transportation Expenses In Beijing Vs. New York City
On average, transportation expenses in Beijing cost $116 a month vs. $347 a month in New York City. Using local transportation is significantly more affordable in Beijing than in New York, though paying for gas to drive a privately owned vehicle costs the same in both cities.
Transportation average costs:
- Local transport ticket: $0.74 in Beijing vs. $2.75 in NYC
- Monthly local transport ticket: $37.10 in Beijing vs. $129 in NYC
- Taxi Ride for 5 miles: $5.61 in Beijing vs. $20.10 in NYC
- ¼ gallon of gas: $1.22 in Beijing vs. $1.20 in NYC
Salaries In Beijing Vs. New York City
The monthly salary after tax in Beijing is $1,565 on average. The monthly salary after tax in New York City is $5,796 on average. The annual salary after tax in Beijing is $18,780 on average, compared to the annual salary after tax in New York which is $69,552 on average.
Is Beijing Expensive To Live In?
Beijing is 66% less expensive to live in than New York City, according to crowd-sourced data. That being said, it really comes down to your lifestyle and how luxurious you plan to be. Beijing can be more affordable than many western cities, though it ranks as expensive among its Chinese neighbors.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself when deciding how expensive you’ll choose to live in Beijing:
- Dining Habits: Do you plan to regularly dine at the high-end, luxury restaurants, or do you prefer frugality and becoming familiar with where to find the best deals for great meals?
- Evening Activities: Do you plan to attend expensive clubs often, or do you enjoy some simple nightlife at the local bar?
- Style of Housing: Do you want to purchase or own a large house or apartment with all the modern amenities, or do you want to rent something that meets your needs without exceeding them? You can also consider sharing an apartment with roommates to split this cost.
- Entertainment: Do you plan to splurge often on high-end activities, or are you the type of person who loves to find the affordable fun that still brings a great time, such as visiting the Summer Palace or Temple of Heaven for just a few dollars?
Another question to consider is how you will pay for healthcare.
Healthcare In Beijing For Expats
In Beijing, China there are public and private healthcare systems available to expats. The basic public healthcare is provided free by China’s social insurance plan, though the visits and appointment booking are often done in Mandarin, there are long wait times, and the facilities are less clean.
The alternative is to purchase a private health insurance plan. With a private plan, you will have access to the private healthcare system and the international and VIP hospitals and clinics.
These facilities:
- Are much cleaner
- Provide services at the level of care comparable to Western countries
- Are far more likely to have access to English speaking professionals
Though the private clinics are expensive, having a private health insurance plan in China can help alleviate much of that cost.
You can also consider having an international plan that covers you in any country you may visit during your travels, as well as adding an emergency evacuation rider so you can be flown to the nearest facility with the best treatment for your personal situation.
Moving To Beijing From The USA
If you’re planning on moving to Beijing, China from the USA, you’ll need an entry visa to get into China. This requirement stands even for tourists. You will apply for the visa that describes your purposes for moving to China, such as for work, school, temporary exchange, or permanent residence.
Not only do you need a valid visa to enter China, but you must also have a valid visa to exit, so don’t let yours expire. If your Chinese visa does expire, you may be detained and receive a fine. To prevent this, make sure you get the right visa and that it will last for your full stay in China.
These are some of the Chinese Visa Categories:
- C: For foreign crew members on aircrafts, trains, ships, or vehicle drivers who are involved in cross-border transportation activities
- D: For individuals who plan to live in China permanently
- F: For individuals who plan to go to China for exchanges, visits, studying, tourism, and other activities
- L: For individuals who plan to visit China as a tourist
- M: For individuals who plan to go to China for commercial and trade activities
- R: For individuals who have high-level talents and skills that are in high demand in China
- X1: For individuals who plan to study in China for longer than 180 days
- X2: For individuals who plan to study in China for no longer than 180 days
- Z: For individuals who plan to work in China
Read about more types of Chinese visas here.
Living In Beijing As An American
Living in Beijing as an American can feel like quite a new experience. You’ll need to learn how to bargain for your prices, how to speak some Mandarin, how to respect the hierarchy, how to navigate crowded spaces, and how to censor your freedom of speech. These cultural differences may take time.
Here are some tips for Americans living in Beijing:
- Take toilet paper with you everywhere: Many public bathrooms do not provide toilet paper, and only some have it available for purchase. You’ll also want to have hand sanitizer with you since soap is rarely provided.
- People might stare at you: Many Chinese locals will have never seen Westerners before, so they may stare at you with curiosity. This is not intended to be rude, so just be friendly back!
- Buy a VPN – a virtual private network: China has very strict rules against many foreign websites, so without a VPN you likely won’t have access to Facebook, Google, Twitter, Netflix, or Spotify, to name a few.
Conclusion
We’ve now learned a lot about what it will cost and be like when living in Beijing as an expat. Hopefully you’re feeling more prepared and excited to start this new journey!
Don’t forget to check out all the health insurance plans available to you, so you can find the best fit for your needs, and if you’re not sure if Beijing is the right place for you, consider living abroad in Hong Kong or Shanghai. Safe travels!
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
- How to Compare Travel Insurance Plans the Smart Way – October 21, 2025
- Best Hospitals in the UAE: Top Picks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – October 21, 2025
- How Much is a Doctor Visit in Dubai Without Insurance? – October 21, 2025
