Xiamen

China ·Fujian · Asia ·UTC UTC+8
Cost Medium
Safety ★★★★☆
English Limited
Currency CNY ¥

City Overview

Xiamen is a coastal SEZ in Fujian and a garden city — mild, beautiful, with Gulangyu Island a World Heritage site. The pace is relaxed with a strong cafe and creative-culture scene; tourism thrives, and it faces Taiwan across the strait. Housing is pricey but livability is outstanding; electronics and foreign trade are strong.

Cost of Living Snapshot

1BR Apartment ¥3500–7000/mo (center); ¥2000–4000/mo (outer ring)
Dining Out ¥15–30 (eatery/snacks); ¥50–120 (restaurant)
Monthly Transport Metro ~¥140–280/mo; DiDi starts ~¥11–15
Monthly Groceries ¥900–2000/mo (supermarket)
USD Reference: Approx. USD 490–980/mo (1BR center)
Full Cost of Living Report →

Data above is approximate. Actual costs vary by location, timing, and personal lifestyle.

Getting Around

A multi-line metro links the island and mainland; e-Tong card for metro/bus/BRT (an elevated bus-rapid-transit feature). HSR to Fuzhou/Shenzhen. Gaoqi International Airport, with the new Xiang’an airport under construction.

Why Live Here

  • A garden city; Gulangyu World Heritage
  • Relaxed pace; creative and cafe culture
  • An SEZ; electronics and foreign trade

Popular Neighborhoods

City Center Siming (island core/old town)
City Center Huli (island/software park)
Quiet & Residential Jimei (universities/livable)
Budget-Friendly Haicang/Xiang’an (mainland value)
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Data Updated: 2026-06-19