Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Shenzhen

🙂 Solo nomad: Chengdu is 17.1% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 31.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chengdu is 16% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 34.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 ¥20.51
$3.17 ¥22.75
-9.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.94 ¥172
$27.46 ¥197
-12.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.83 ¥34.66
$4.92 ¥35.32
-1.83%
Cappuccino
$2.86 ¥20.52
$3.19 ¥22.91
-10.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.15
$0.51 ¥3.69
-13.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.98
$0.28 ¥1.98
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 ¥8.1
$1.21 ¥8.7
-6.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ¥14.83
$2.71 ¥19.42
-23.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$1.79 ¥12.87
-1.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ¥10.53
$2.05 ¥14.69
-28.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.69
$1.22 ¥8.75
-23.77%
Eggs
$1.94 ¥13.92
$1.87 ¥13.4
3.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.48 ¥96.7
$12.74 ¥91.4
5.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 ¥26.42
$3.84 ¥27.55
-4.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.11 ¥79.7
$13.46 ¥96.6
-17.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ¥13.33
$1.82 ¥13.06
2.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ¥8.48
$1.47 ¥10.56
-19.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 ¥10.31
$1.82 ¥13.03
-20.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 ¥7.32
$1.4 ¥10.01
-27.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ¥5.08
$1.09 ¥7.85
-34.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 ¥5.32
$1.45 ¥10.43
-48.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.6 ¥4.28
$0.74 ¥5.33
-18.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.15
$0.61 ¥4.35
-4.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 ¥23.27
$3.4 ¥24.37
-4.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.92 ¥49.63
$12.61 ¥90.5
-45.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ¥6.68
$0.9 ¥6.43
3.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ¥13.3
$1.9 ¥13.66
-2.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.13
$0.43 ¥3.09
2.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.31 ¥196
$22.34 ¥160
22.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ¥8.74
$1.71 ¥12.3
-28.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ¥2.02
$0.35 ¥2.5
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.16 ¥29.86
$6.74 ¥48.33
-38.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥8.11
$1.12 ¥8.04
0.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ¥133.6K
$23.1K ¥165.8K
-19.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.4K ¥118K
$20.2K ¥145.2K
-18.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.03 ¥323
$67.1 ¥482
-32.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.42 ¥81.9
$8.16 ¥58.6
39.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.71 ¥84
$12.86 ¥92.2
-8.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.72 ¥170
$50.3 ¥361
-52.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.5 ¥82.5
$17.3 ¥124
-33.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 ¥40.78
$7.1 ¥50.9
-20.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$335 ¥2,400
$455 ¥3,267
-26.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K ¥88.3K
$20.6K ¥147.8K
-40.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.28 ¥267
$49.43 ¥355
-24.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 ¥282
$30.29 ¥217
29.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.8 ¥472
$74.9 ¥537
-12.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.78 ¥357
$77.8 ¥558
-36.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$314 ¥2,254
$728 ¥5,220
-56.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ¥1,309
$406 ¥2,915
-55.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 ¥4,478
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-63.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$324 ¥2,321
$907 ¥6,505
-64.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,049 ¥29K
$12.4K ¥88.6K
-67.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,039 ¥14.6K
$5,786 ¥41.5K
-64.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chengdu
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$940 ¥6,741
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-44.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.21
4.04
4.21%

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

Last update for Chengdu: October 27, 2025

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

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