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Cost of Living Comparison Between Guangzhou (Canton) and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Guangzhou (Canton) and Shenzhen

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Guangzhou (Canton) is 5.3% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 14.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Guangzhou (Canton) is 1.8% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 17% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 ยฅ19.11
$3.27 ยฅ22.80
-16.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.69 ยฅ158
$28.04 ยฅ196
-19.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 ยฅ34.71
$5.07 ยฅ35.40
-1.97%
Cappuccino
$3.05 ยฅ21.26
$3.18 ยฅ22.19
-4.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ยฅ3.20
$0.51 ยฅ3.59
-9.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ยฅ2.25
$0.28 ยฅ1.95
14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ยฅ6.66
$1.27 ยฅ8.86
-25.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ยฅ11.99
$2.75 ยฅ19.19
-37.45%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ยฅ13.22
$1.79 ยฅ12.51
5.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 ยฅ14.52
$2.05 ยฅ14.28
1.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 ยฅ8.65
$1.23 ยฅ8.57
0.81%
Eggs
$1.56 ยฅ10.91
$1.84 ยฅ12.85
-15.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.98 ยฅ132
$12.95 ยฅ90.4
46.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.65 ยฅ32.45
$4.07 ยฅ28.39
14.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.06 ยฅ98.2
$13.38 ยฅ93.4
5.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 ยฅ14.67
$1.81 ยฅ12.63
16.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ยฅ8.81
$1.41 ยฅ9.87
-10.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 ยฅ13.54
$1.74 ยฅ12.18
11.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 ยฅ9.86
$1.34 ยฅ9.38
5.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 ยฅ6.51
$1.05 ยฅ7.35
-11.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 ยฅ7.34
$1.42 ยฅ9.88
-26.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ยฅ3.94
$0.75 ยฅ5.22
-25.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ยฅ4.26
$0.57 ยฅ3.97
7.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89 ยฅ27.12
$3.44 ยฅ24.03
13.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.05 ยฅ70.2
$13.46 ยฅ93.9
-25.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ยฅ6.95
$0.95 ยฅ6.60
5.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ยฅ9.78
$1.85 ยฅ12.89
-24.32%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ยฅ3.08
$0.44 ยฅ3.07
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.98 ยฅ174
$22.17 ยฅ155
12.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.69 ยฅ11.77
$1.63 ยฅ11.38
3.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 ยฅ2.41
$0.34 ยฅ2.39
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 ยฅ43.83
$6.91 ยฅ48.22
-9.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ยฅ8.11
$1.18 ยฅ8.26
-1.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K ยฅ143.5K
$23.3K ยฅ162.6K
-11.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ยฅ134.5K
$20.7K ยฅ144.5K
-6.92%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.6 ยฅ430
$67.2 ยฅ469
-8.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 ยฅ88.7
$8.23 ยฅ57.5
54.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.63 ยฅ81.2
$12.94 ยฅ90.3
-10.12%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.45 ยฅ289
$49.27 ยฅ344
-15.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.73 ยฅ95.9
$17.48 ยฅ122
-21.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 ยฅ44.12
$6.91 ยฅ48.20
-8.54%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 ยฅ2,178
$462 ยฅ3,227
-32.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ยฅ109.7K
$20.9K ยฅ145.9K
-24.80%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.77 ยฅ292
$48.87 ยฅ341
-14.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.10 ยฅ196
$30.17 ยฅ211
-6.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.0 ยฅ482
$77.0 ยฅ538
-10.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.4 ยฅ429
$80.5 ยฅ562
-23.69%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ยฅ3,363
$742 ยฅ5,179
-35.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 ยฅ1,887
$406 ยฅ2,835
-33.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 ยฅ8,089
$1,654 ยฅ11.5K
-29.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ยฅ4,379
$901 ยฅ6,292
-30.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,979 ยฅ62.7K
$13.5K ยฅ93.9K
-33.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,425 ยฅ23.9K
$5,966 ยฅ41.6K
-42.59%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Guangzhou (Canton)
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,427 ยฅ9,959
$1,588 ยฅ11.1K
-10.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.08
4.04
0.99%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Guangzhou (Canton): January 11, 2026

Last update for Shenzhen: January 13, 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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