Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanjing and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanjing and Shenzhen

🙂 Solo nomad: Nanjing is 13% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 17% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Nanjing is 11.6% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 23.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83 ¥20.28
$3.17 ¥22.75
-10.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.06 ¥158
$27.46 ¥197
-19.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 ¥33.89
$4.92 ¥35.32
-3.86%
Cappuccino
$3.19 ¥22.91
$3.19 ¥22.91
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ¥3
$0.51 ¥3.69
-17.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 ¥1.7
$0.28 ¥1.98
-14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ¥6.21
$1.21 ¥8.7
-28.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 ¥15.16
$2.71 ¥19.42
-22.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 ¥16.57
$1.79 ¥12.87
29.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 ¥15.1
$2.05 ¥14.69
2.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 ¥5.78
$1.22 ¥8.75
-33.61%
Eggs
$1.49 ¥10.66
$1.87 ¥13.4
-20.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.95 ¥64.2
$12.74 ¥91.4
-29.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.72 ¥19.53
$3.84 ¥27.55
-29.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.92 ¥64
$13.46 ¥96.6
-33.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ¥15.54
$1.82 ¥13.06
19.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 ¥10.12
$1.47 ¥10.56
-4.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 ¥11.4
$1.82 ¥13.03
-12.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 ¥8.68
$1.4 ¥10.01
-13.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.14
$1.09 ¥7.85
-21.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.49
$1.45 ¥10.43
-37.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 ¥6.23
$0.74 ¥5.33
17.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$0.61 ¥4.35
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ¥24.24
$3.4 ¥24.37
-0.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.2 ¥102
$12.61 ¥90.5
12.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥6.24
$0.9 ¥6.43
-3.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ¥10.7
$1.9 ¥13.66
-21.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ¥1.91
$0.43 ¥3.09
-37.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.69 ¥199
$22.34 ¥160
23.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 ¥10.65
$1.71 ¥12.3
-13.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ¥2.56
$0.35 ¥2.5
2.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.18 ¥58.7
$6.74 ¥48.33
21.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥8.33
$1.12 ¥8.04
3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1K ¥122.5K
$23.1K ¥165.8K
-26.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.7K ¥105.3K
$20.2K ¥145.2K
-27.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.6 ¥306
$67.1 ¥482
-36.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.73 ¥77
$8.16 ¥58.6
31.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.93 ¥78.4
$12.86 ¥92.2
-15.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.77 ¥192
$50.3 ¥361
-46.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 ¥211
$17.3 ¥124
69.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.45 ¥39.11
$7.1 ¥50.9
-23.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$404 ¥2,898
$455 ¥3,267
-11.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ¥135K
$20.6K ¥147.8K
-8.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 ¥311
$49.43 ¥355
-12.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.83 ¥235
$30.29 ¥217
8.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.6 ¥485
$74.9 ¥537
-9.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.6 ¥607
$77.8 ¥558
8.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$428 ¥3,068
$728 ¥5,220
-41.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ¥2,217
$406 ¥2,915
-23.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 ¥6,459
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-47.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$549 ¥3,940
$907 ¥6,505
-39.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,207 ¥44.5K
$12.4K ¥88.6K
-49.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,352 ¥24K
$5,786 ¥41.5K
-42.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nanjing
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,103 ¥7,912
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-35.21%
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 Nanjing: October 28, 2025

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

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