🙂A single person spends $455 per month in Longyan vs $1,108 in Shenzhen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $753 per month in Longyan vs $1,752 in Shenzhen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,052 per month in Longyan vs $2,397 in Shenzhen, rent included.
🙂Longyan is about 59% cheaper than Shenzhen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Longyan and Shenzhen are more affordable than the global median – Longyan67% lower, Shenzhen19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03¥20.32
$3.68¥24.66
-17.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.97¥147
$29.95¥201
-26.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.23¥35.04
$5.13¥34.36
1.95%
Cappuccino
$2.25¥15.06
$3.26¥21.81
-30.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49¥3.27
$0.58¥3.86
-15.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.79
$0.35¥2.37
-22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.85¥5.70
$1.45¥9.73
-41.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67¥11.22
$2.27¥15.23
-26.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.07¥13.87
$1.63¥10.91
26.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46¥9.81
$1.86¥12.47
-21.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71¥4.75
$1.22¥8.17
-41.80%
Eggs
$1.51¥10.14
$1.72¥11.55
-12.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33¥49.14
$21.88¥147
-66.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.96¥19.83
$3.60¥24.13
-17.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26¥62.1
$14.34¥96.1
-35.43%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86¥12.47
$2.25¥15.06
-17.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.79
$1.59¥10.64
-17.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70¥11.37
$1.88¥12.61
-9.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12¥7.48
$1.48¥9.90
-24.32%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85¥5.67
$1.23¥8.23
-30.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99¥6.60
$1.48¥9.90
-33.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43¥2.89
$0.58¥3.88
-25.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52¥3.51
$0.54¥3.62
-3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26¥21.87
$4.40¥29.51
-25.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.10¥81.1
$12.74¥85.4
-5.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77¥5.14
$0.98¥6.59
-21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16¥7.77
$1.81¥12.15
-35.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.13¥0.86
$0.63¥4.20
-79.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.30¥149
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06¥7.11
$1.46¥9.79
-27.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47¥3.13
$0.37¥2.51
27.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.61¥51.0
$7.09¥47.52
7.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22¥8.14
$1.31¥8.77
-6.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥129.9K
$19.4K¥129.8K
0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K¥102.6K
$18.4K¥123.3K
-16.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.1¥436
$62.1¥416
4.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70¥105
$10.07¥67.5
55.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.09¥60.9
$14.91¥99.9
-39.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.67¥326
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.51¥30.21
$16.94¥113
-73.38%
Cinema Ticket
$7.29¥48.86
$7.48¥50.2
-2.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$208¥1,395
$535¥3,583
-61.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K¥79.5K
$24.0K¥160.9K
-50.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.86¥200
$49.75¥333
-39.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.78¥99.0
$39.48¥265
-62.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.7¥507
$69.8¥467
8.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9¥643
$87.5¥586
9.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$752¥5,039
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465¥3,118
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$376¥2,516
$1,819¥12.2K
-79.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$862¥5,777
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$13.1K¥88.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,321¥8,849
$6,442¥43.2K
-79.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Longyan
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$499¥3,341
$1,732¥11.6K
-71.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.22
3.4
-5.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Longyan: September 13, 2026
Last update for Shenzhen: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 247% higher in Shenzhen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Longyan versus $30.00 in Shenzhen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $258 – making Longyan 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
Longyan vs Shenzhen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Longyan and in Shenzhen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $455 in Longyan, $1,108 in Shenzhen – roughly 143% apart. Shenzhen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Longyan compared to Shenzhen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $683 per month in Longyan and $1,662 in Shenzhen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Longyan and $30.00 in Shenzhen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Shenzhen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Longyan, where all-in costs run around $455, than in Shenzhen at $1,108. In Longyan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shenzhen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Longyan or Shenzhen?
Families tend to lean toward Longyan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Longyan and Shenzhen?
If budget matters most, go with Longyan. 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.