🙂A single person spends $692 per month in Chuzhou vs $1,000 in Shenzhen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Chuzhou vs $1,640 in Shenzhen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,495 per month in Chuzhou vs $2,281 in Shenzhen, rent included.
🙂Chuzhou is about 31% cheaper than Shenzhen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chuzhou and Shenzhen are more affordable than the global median – Chuzhou48% lower, Shenzhen26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.07¥14.03
$3.29¥22.23
-37.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.85¥141
$27.75¥188
-24.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.93¥33.33
$5.08¥34.33
-2.95%
Cappuccino
$2.08¥14.06
$3.28¥22.19
-36.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42¥2.81
$0.48¥3.23
-12.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26¥1.76
$0.28¥1.89
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.41¥2.77
$1.26¥8.53
-67.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43¥9.64
$2.77¥18.71
-48.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38¥9.31
$1.76¥11.89
-21.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.18¥14.71
$2.04¥13.80
6.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80¥5.41
$1.23¥8.32
-34.96%
Eggs
$1.54¥10.43
$1.91¥12.91
-19.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.90¥60.2
$12.89¥87.2
-30.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.70¥18.28
$4.02¥27.16
-32.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.79¥59.4
$13.81¥93.4
-36.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.14¥14.50
$1.88¥12.70
13.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42¥9.60
$1.47¥9.96
-3.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58¥10.69
$1.73¥11.69
-8.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.16¥7.86
$1.41¥9.55
-17.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92¥6.21
$1.10¥7.43
-16.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90¥6.09
$1.47¥9.96
-38.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87¥5.88
$0.75¥5.09
16.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.80
$0.61¥4.10
-8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46¥23.42
$3.53¥23.84
-1.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.29¥89.8
$13.14¥88.9
1.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92¥6.25
$0.93¥6.26
-1.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55¥10.51
$1.90¥12.86
-18.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.40¥2.70
-27.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.73¥113
$22.52¥152
-25.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.51¥10.23
$1.69¥11.45
-10.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.39
$0.37¥2.51
-5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.40¥56.8
$6.85¥46.35
22.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥7.90
$1.13¥7.61
3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.0K¥114.8K
$22.8K¥154.3K
-25.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.7K¥99.4K
$20.1K¥135.6K
-26.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.61¥288
$67.3¥455
-36.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.61¥65.0
$8.52¥57.6
12.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.04¥74.7
$13.10¥88.6
-15.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.42¥287
$49.62¥336
-14.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.87¥93.8
$17.24¥117
-19.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60¥37.84
$6.85¥46.35
-18.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$399¥2,697
$466¥3,149
-14.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7K¥126.3K
$20.6K¥139.5K
-9.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.32¥286
$49.14¥332
-13.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.03¥223
$29.85¥202
10.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.8¥465
$76.3¥516
-9.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.7¥573
$80.0¥541
5.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277¥1,871
$738¥4,988
-62.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$189¥1,277
$405¥2,741
-53.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$599¥4,050
$1,655¥11.2K
-63.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365¥2,469
$920¥6,220
-60.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,609¥24.4K
$12.9K¥87.4K
-72.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,026¥13.7K
$6,050¥40.9K
-66.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chuzhou
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,660¥11.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
4.04
-4.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chuzhou: June 7, 2026
Last update for Shenzhen: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Chuzhou 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Chuzhou versus $28.00 in Shenzhen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $234 – making Chuzhou 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
Chuzhou vs Shenzhen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chuzhou or Shenzhen?
Shenzhen costs about 44% more than Chuzhou, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chuzhou vs Shenzhen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,038 per month in Chuzhou and $1,500 in Shenzhen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chuzhou or Shenzhen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chuzhou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chuzhou vs Shenzhen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Chuzhou and $28.00 in Shenzhen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Chuzhou compared to Shenzhen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $692 in Chuzhou and $1,000 in Shenzhen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Chuzhou or Shenzhen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chuzhou, where all-in costs run around $692, than in Shenzhen at $1,000. In Chuzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shenzhen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Chuzhou – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Chuzhou or Shenzhen?
If budget matters most, go with Chuzhou. 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.