Beijing announced prices for its public rental housing for the first time on Thursday as three new projects were launched, the Beijing News reports.

The three projects, which will provide a total of 7450 apartments around the city, offered rents 12 to 35 percent cheaper than the average prices in the same areas.

The cost of renting at the Wangsiying project in Chaoyang District, which covers an area of some 200,000 square metres and will provide 3200 apartments, is 22 Yuan per square metre per month, compared with a 25 yuan average rent in the area.

Apartments of the Huangtugang project in Fengtai District, which cost as much as 30 Yuan per square metre per month, are the most expensive among the three projects. But the rent is still a lot cheaper than the 38-Yuan local rental price.

According to Beijing housing authorities, the rents announced are initially estimated to cover the costs. Although the final rents will not be confirmed until the houses are put into use, they are definitely cheaper than the local market prices.

The cost of public rental housing is set according to market prices and the financial situation of the tenants, with minimal profits. The current rents are usually 20 percent lower than market prices, or even cheaper in some cases.