Cost of Living Comparison Between Dalian and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Dalian and Shenzhen

🙂 Solo nomad: Dalian is 5.7% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 21.4% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Dalian is 1% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 26.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 ¥23.73
$3.18 ¥21.99
7.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.36 ¥168
$27.99 ¥193
-12.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.94 ¥34.11
$5.05 ¥34.93
-2.18%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥21.38
$3.33 ¥22.98
-7.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.52
$0.49 ¥3.38
4.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ¥1.80
$0.30 ¥2.07
-13.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.80 ¥5.52
$1.28 ¥8.87
-37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 ¥10.36
$2.81 ¥19.45
-46.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ¥11.49
$1.81 ¥12.51
-8.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ¥10.46
$2.03 ¥14.02
-25.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ¥6.73
$1.22 ¥8.44
-20.49%
Eggs
$2.01 ¥13.87
$1.86 ¥12.86
8.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ¥132
$12.98 ¥89.7
47.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.75 ¥18.98
$4.05 ¥27.95
-32.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.22 ¥70.6
$13.37 ¥92.4
-23.56%
Apples (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.68
$1.82 ¥12.54
-30.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ¥7.65
$1.45 ¥10.04
-23.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ¥8.82
$1.79 ¥12.34
-28.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.99
$1.35 ¥9.32
-46.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 ¥4.99
$1.06 ¥7.32
-32.08%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.20
$1.43 ¥9.85
-47.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ¥4.83
$0.70 ¥4.81
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.61 ¥4.18
-8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49 ¥24.12
$3.58 ¥24.75
-2.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 ¥122
$13.42 ¥92.7
31.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥5.52
$0.88 ¥6.07
-9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ¥10.49
$1.91 ¥13.21
-20.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ¥1.85
$0.40 ¥2.79
-32.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.69 ¥191
$21.87 ¥151
26.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 ¥9.51
$1.64 ¥11.34
-15.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 ¥2.73
$0.35 ¥2.41
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.10 ¥28.30
$6.88 ¥47.56
-40.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ¥8.14
$1.17 ¥8.07
0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.9K
$23.1K ¥159.3K
-22.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.3K ¥112.4K
$20.7K ¥143.2K
-21.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.40 ¥300
$65.6 ¥453
-33.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.39 ¥64.9
$8.30 ¥57.3
13.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.37 ¥78.6
$13.03 ¥90.0
-12.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.04 ¥249
$49.30 ¥341
-26.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.08 ¥166
$17.51 ¥121
37.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.45 ¥44.55
$7.07 ¥48.86
-8.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$457 ¥3,161
$454 ¥3,138
0.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,600 ¥66.3K
$20.5K ¥141.6K
-53.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 ¥386
$48.31 ¥334
15.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 ¥350
$30.67 ¥212
64.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 ¥735
$75.5 ¥522
40.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.6 ¥661
$77.9 ¥538
22.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$361 ¥2,495
$755 ¥5,220
-52.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$203 ¥1,401
$405 ¥2,796
-49.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$646 ¥4,465
$1,662 ¥11.5K
-61.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$362 ¥2,500
$903 ¥6,238
-59.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,670 ¥18.5K
$13.5K ¥93.3K
-80.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,593 ¥11.0K
$5,851 ¥40.4K
-72.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dalian
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,084 ¥7,489
$1,625 ¥11.2K
-33.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.18
4.04
3.47%

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

Last update for Dalian: March 3, 2026

Last update for Shenzhen: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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