Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing (Pekin) and Shenzhen

😐 Solo nomad: Beijing (Pekin) is 2.1% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Beijing (Pekin) is 1.9% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.08 ¥29.26
$3.17 ¥22.75
28.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.3 ¥196
$27.46 ¥197
-0.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ¥37.06
$4.92 ¥35.32
5.08%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥22.18
$3.19 ¥22.91
-3.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.26
$0.51 ¥3.69
-11.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.28 ¥1.98
7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.8
$1.21 ¥8.7
-9.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ¥15.27
$2.71 ¥19.42
-21.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.79 ¥12.87
-5.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥11.74
$2.05 ¥14.69
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.66
$1.22 ¥8.75
-12.30%
Eggs
$1.67 ¥12.01
$1.87 ¥13.4
-10.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.01 ¥115
$12.74 ¥91.4
25.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 ¥22.88
$3.84 ¥27.55
-16.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 ¥68.2
$13.46 ¥96.6
-29.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ¥14.88
$1.82 ¥13.06
13.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 ¥11.28
$1.47 ¥10.56
6.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.8 ¥12.93
$1.82 ¥13.03
-1.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥9.23
$1.4 ¥10.01
-7.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.99
$1.09 ¥7.85
-22.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.55
$1.45 ¥10.43
-37.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.83
$0.74 ¥5.33
-9.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.74
$0.61 ¥4.35
-14.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.73
$3.4 ¥24.37
1.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.69 ¥62.3
$12.61 ¥90.5
-31.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.9 ¥6.43
-11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ¥12.58
$1.9 ¥13.66
-7.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ¥3.85
$0.43 ¥3.09
25.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.25 ¥224
$22.34 ¥160
39.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ¥12.73
$1.71 ¥12.3
4.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ¥2.36
$0.35 ¥2.5
-5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 ¥76.4
$6.74 ¥48.33
57.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ¥8.19
$1.12 ¥8.04
1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K ¥134.5K
$23.1K ¥165.8K
-18.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K ¥111.9K
$20.2K ¥145.2K
-22.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 ¥375
$67.1 ¥482
-22.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.86 ¥63.6
$8.16 ¥58.6
8.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.53 ¥89.9
$12.86 ¥92.2
-2.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.38 ¥347
$50.3 ¥361
-3.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.48 ¥133
$17.3 ¥124
6.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.32 ¥59.7
$7.1 ¥50.9
17.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 ¥4,766
$455 ¥3,267
45.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K ¥172.3K
$20.6K ¥147.8K
16.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3 ¥440
$49.43 ¥355
24.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ¥253
$30.29 ¥217
16.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 ¥573
$74.9 ¥537
6.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 ¥725
$77.8 ¥558
29.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 ¥6,397
$728 ¥5,220
22.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 ¥3,234
$406 ¥2,915
10.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,946 ¥14K
$1,702 ¥12.2K
14.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 ¥7,836
$907 ¥6,505
20.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.7K ¥105.4K
$12.4K ¥88.6K
18.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,282 ¥45.1K
$5,786 ¥41.5K
8.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beijing (Pekin)
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,425 ¥10.2K
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-16.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.64
4.04
-9.90%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): October 28, 2025

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

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