Cost of Living Comparison Between Benxi and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Benxi and Shenzhen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $671 per month in Benxi vs $1,000 in Shenzhen, rent included.

A couple spends around $949 per month in Benxi vs $1,640 in Shenzhen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,227 per month in Benxi vs $2,281 in Shenzhen, rent included.

Benxi is about 33% cheaper than Shenzhen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Benxi and Shenzhen are more affordable than the global median – Benxi 50% lower, Shenzhen 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 ¥18.51

$3.29 ¥22.23

-16.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.54 ¥139

$27.75 ¥188

-25.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 ¥32.76

$5.08 ¥34.33

-4.53%

Cappuccino

$2.64 ¥17.88

$3.28 ¥22.19

-19.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ¥3.07

$0.48 ¥3.23

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.96

$0.28 ¥1.89

3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 ¥4.90

$1.26 ¥8.53

-42.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ¥11.06

$2.77 ¥18.71

-40.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ¥11.56

$1.76 ¥11.89

-2.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 ¥7.62

$2.04 ¥13.80

-44.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 ¥5.14

$1.23 ¥8.32

-38.21%

Eggs

$1.10 ¥7.41

$1.91 ¥12.91

-42.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 ¥62.4

$12.89 ¥87.2

-28.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ¥18.77

$4.02 ¥27.16

-30.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.50 ¥57.5

$13.81 ¥93.4

-38.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 ¥9.80

$1.88 ¥12.70

-22.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.04

$1.47 ¥9.96

-8.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ¥10.11

$1.73 ¥11.69

-13.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 ¥8.38

$1.41 ¥9.55

-12.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ¥3.64

$1.10 ¥7.43

-50.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.69

$1.47 ¥9.96

17.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 ¥7.90

$0.75 ¥5.09

56.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ¥4.35

$0.61 ¥4.10

4.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 ¥18.56

$3.53 ¥23.84

-22.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 ¥53.8

$13.14 ¥88.9

-39.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥3.97

$0.93 ¥6.26

-36.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥6.02

$1.90 ¥12.86

-53.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.98

$0.40 ¥2.70

-27.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.29 ¥76.4

$22.52 ¥152

-49.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 ¥5.44

$1.69 ¥11.45

-52.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.91

$0.37 ¥2.51

-24.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ¥23.27

$6.85 ¥46.35

-49.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ¥7.49

$1.13 ¥7.61

-1.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.4K ¥124.6K

$22.8K ¥154.3K

-19.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.8K ¥113.5K

$20.1K ¥135.6K

-16.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$51.7 ¥349

$67.3 ¥455

-23.22%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.41 ¥43.33

$8.52 ¥57.6

-24.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.80 ¥66.3

$13.10 ¥88.6

-25.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 ¥421

$49.62 ¥336

25.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.72 ¥52.2

$17.24 ¥117

-55.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.80 ¥32.49

$6.85 ¥46.35

-29.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$413 ¥2,790

$466 ¥3,149

-11.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,483 ¥57.4K

$20.6K ¥139.5K

-58.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.71 ¥187

$49.14 ¥332

-43.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 ¥208

$29.85 ¥202

2.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.1 ¥373

$76.3 ¥516

-27.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.47 ¥335

$80.0 ¥541

-38.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ¥850

$738 ¥4,988

-82.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 ¥1,277

$405 ¥2,741

-53.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 ¥1,619

$1,655 ¥11.2K

-85.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 ¥932

$920 ¥6,220

-85.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,164 ¥21.4K

$12.9K ¥87.4K

-75.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,797 ¥12.1K

$6,050 ¥40.9K

-70.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$440 ¥2,978

$1,660 ¥11.2K

-73.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

-0.99%

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

Last update for Benxi: June 8, 2026

Last update for Shenzhen: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Benxi versus $738 in Shenzhen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 277% higher in Shenzhen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Benxi versus $28.00 in Shenzhen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $234 – making Benxi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Benxi vs Shenzhen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shenzhen costs about 49% more than Benxi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,007 per month in Benxi and $1,500 in Shenzhen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Benxi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $413 per month in Benxi and $466 in Shenzhen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Shenzhen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Benxi, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Shenzhen at $1,000. In Benxi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shenzhen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Benxi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Benxi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shenzhen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.