Student Guide: Living in Beijing
Beijing, China's capital, offers the richest cultural experience and is home to the country's top universities. While more expensive than other cities, it provides unmatched career opportunities and a large Muslim community centered around the historic Niujie district.
Key Highlights
- Capital city with rich cultural heritage
- Niujie (Muslim quarter) with mosques and halal restaurants
- Excellent public transport (subway covers entire city)
- Many English-speaking services
Cost of Living
| Monthly Expense | Min | Average | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $350 | $550 | $900 |
| Food | $150 | $220 | $350 |
| Transport | $15 | $30 | $50 |
| Total Monthly | $600 | $900 | $1400 |
* Last verified: 2026-03-06
Climate
Continental: cold winters (-5°C to -15°C), hot summers (30°C+). Four distinct seasons with dry, clear autumns.
Halal Food
Excellent
Moroccan Community
Large
Airport
PEK (Capital) / PKX (Daxing)
Top Universities in Beijing
What it costs and where you would study
A student month in Beijing runs $600 to $1,400, averaging $900, which makes it the 9th cheapest of the 10 Chinese cities Foorsa places students in, against a $600 median.
Rent accounts for most of it at $550 a month on average ($350-$900), with food around $220 and transport about $30.
Beijing has roughly 92 universities in total. 32 of them are in the Foorsa catalogue, 10 of those ranked in the QS world list, with tuition from $2,000 to $8,500 a year.
Halal food availability is excellent, the Muslim community is large and the Moroccan student community is large. You would fly into PEK (Capital) / PKX (Daxing).
Continental: cold winters (-5°C to -15°C), hot summers (30°C+). Four distinct seasons with dry, clear autumns.
Universities we place students in here
- Peking University — QS 17 · $2,600-$8,000/yr
- Tsinghua University — QS 20 · $2,600-$8,500/yr
- Beijing Normal University — QS 256 · $2,200-$5,500/yr
- Beihang University (BUAA) — QS 345 · $2,000-$5,500/yr
- Beijing Institute of Technology — QS 401 · $2,200-$6,000/yr
- China Agricultural University — QS 436 · $2,000-$5,000/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to live in Beijing as a student?
Between $600 and $1,400 a month, $900 on average: about $550 for rent, $220 for food and $30 for transport. That is the 9th cheapest of the 10 Chinese cities Foorsa works in.
Which universities can I apply to in Beijing?
32 of the 149 universities in the Foorsa catalogue are in Beijing, 10 of them QS-ranked. They include Peking University, Tsinghua University and Beijing Normal University.
Is it easy to find halal food in Beijing?
Halal food availability in Beijing is excellent, and the city has a large Muslim community.
What is the weather like in Beijing?
Continental: cold winters (-5°C to -15°C), hot summers (30°C+). Four distinct seasons with dry, clear autumns.
Are there other Moroccan students in Beijing?
The Moroccan student community in Beijing is large. Foorsa introduces you to students already there before you travel.
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Start Your Application Get Free ConsultationLast verified: 2026-03-06