Cost of Living Comparison Between Harbin and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Harbin and Shenzhen

🙂 Solo nomad: Harbin is 3.6% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 14.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Harbin is 9.7% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 17.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81 ¥20.13
$3.17 ¥22.75
-11.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.29 ¥153
$27.46 ¥197
-22.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.26 ¥37.74
$4.92 ¥35.32
6.91%
Cappuccino
$2.67 ¥19.13
$3.19 ¥22.91
-16.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.2
$0.51 ¥3.69
-11.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.92
$0.28 ¥1.98
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 ¥6.38
$1.21 ¥8.7
-26.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ¥12.35
$2.71 ¥19.42
-36.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ¥13.39
$1.79 ¥12.87
4.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 ¥13.57
$2.05 ¥14.69
-7.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.84
$1.22 ¥8.75
-22.13%
Eggs
$1.28 ¥9.21
$1.87 ¥13.4
-31.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.41 ¥74.7
$12.74 ¥91.4
-18.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ¥26.27
$3.84 ¥27.55
-4.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.87 ¥78
$13.46 ¥96.6
-19.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 ¥18.09
$1.82 ¥13.06
38.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 ¥12.49
$1.47 ¥10.56
18.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.43 ¥17.43
$1.82 ¥13.03
33.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 ¥7.54
$1.4 ¥10.01
-25.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 ¥5.57
$1.09 ¥7.85
-28.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.7
$1.45 ¥10.43
22.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 ¥2.63
$0.74 ¥5.33
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ¥5.27
$0.61 ¥4.35
19.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ¥17.44
$3.4 ¥24.37
-28.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.82 ¥84.8
$12.61 ¥90.5
-6.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.21
$0.9 ¥6.43
-34.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ¥16.92
$1.9 ¥13.66
24.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ¥1.92
$0.43 ¥3.09
-37.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.7 ¥76.7
$22.34 ¥160
-52.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 ¥9.18
$1.71 ¥12.3
-25.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.53
$0.35 ¥2.5
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.57 ¥68.7
$6.74 ¥48.33
41.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥8.31
$1.12 ¥8.04
3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8K ¥99.2K
$23.1K ¥165.8K
-40.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.5K ¥89.6K
$20.2K ¥145.2K
-38.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56 ¥401
$67.1 ¥482
-16.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.71 ¥98.3
$8.16 ¥58.6
68.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.73 ¥113
$12.86 ¥92.2
22.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95 ¥682
$50.3 ¥361
88.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.68 ¥199
$17.3 ¥124
60.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.47 ¥39.24
$7.1 ¥50.9
-22.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 ¥1,643
$455 ¥3,267
-49.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ¥76.4K
$20.6K ¥147.8K
-48.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6 ¥499
$49.43 ¥355
40.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.6 ¥212
$30.29 ¥217
-2.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 ¥553
$74.9 ¥537
2.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 ¥1,101
$77.8 ¥558
97.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 ¥2,166
$728 ¥5,220
-58.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 ¥1,606
$406 ¥2,915
-44.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 ¥9,479
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-22.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 ¥3,452
$907 ¥6,505
-46.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,974 ¥21.3K
$12.4K ¥88.6K
-75.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,271 ¥9,119
$5,786 ¥41.5K
-78.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harbin
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$870 ¥6,240
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-48.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.79
4.04
43.32%

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

Last update for Harbin: October 27, 2025

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

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