Cost of Living Comparison Between Ningbo and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ningbo and Shenzhen

😐 Solo nomad: Ningbo is 7.5% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 16.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ningbo is 0.1% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 22.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14 ¥22.55
$3.17 ¥22.75
-0.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.13 ¥173
$27.46 ¥197
-12.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.07 ¥29.17
$4.92 ¥35.32
-17.28%
Cappuccino
$3.15 ¥22.6
$3.19 ¥22.91
-1.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.23
$0.51 ¥3.69
-11.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ¥1.85
$0.28 ¥1.98
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ¥6.67
$1.21 ¥8.7
-23.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ¥15.2
$2.71 ¥19.42
-21.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ¥14.8
$1.79 ¥12.87
15.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 ¥19.69
$2.05 ¥14.69
33.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.66
$1.22 ¥8.75
-35.25%
Eggs
$1.39 ¥9.96
$1.87 ¥13.4
-25.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.65 ¥148
$12.74 ¥91.4
62.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 ¥34.25
$3.84 ¥27.55
24.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12 ¥86.1
$13.46 ¥96.6
-10.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ¥13.86
$1.82 ¥13.06
6.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 ¥10.2
$1.47 ¥10.56
-3.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ¥16.46
$1.82 ¥13.03
25.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥8.25
$1.4 ¥10.01
-17.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ¥4.78
$1.09 ¥7.85
-38.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.63
$1.45 ¥10.43
-45.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥4.2
$0.74 ¥5.33
-20.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ¥4.06
$0.61 ¥4.35
-6.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ¥38.95
$3.4 ¥24.37
59.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.24 ¥80.6
$12.61 ¥90.5
-10.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.1 ¥7.86
$0.9 ¥6.43
22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ¥14.21
$1.9 ¥13.66
4.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥2.09
$0.43 ¥3.09
-32.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.49 ¥118
$22.34 ¥160
-26.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.7 ¥12.16
$1.71 ¥12.3
-0.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.35 ¥2.5
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ¥51.8
$6.74 ¥48.33
7.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$1.12 ¥8.04
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ¥153.3K
$23.1K ¥165.8K
-7.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ¥139.3K
$20.2K ¥145.2K
-4.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.7 ¥464
$67.1 ¥482
-3.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.55 ¥112
$8.16 ¥58.6
90.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.01 ¥50.3
$12.86 ¥92.2
-45.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.86 ¥157
$50.3 ¥361
-56.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.75 ¥91.4
$17.3 ¥124
-26.30%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12 ¥58.2
$7.1 ¥50.9
14.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 ¥4,325
$455 ¥3,267
32.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K ¥111.1K
$20.6K ¥147.8K
-24.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.38 ¥304
$49.43 ¥355
-14.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.76 ¥213
$30.29 ¥217
-1.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.3 ¥504
$74.9 ¥537
-6.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.5 ¥441
$77.8 ¥558
-20.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 ¥2,695
$728 ¥5,220
-48.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 ¥1,880
$406 ¥2,915
-35.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$853 ¥6,119
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-49.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$485 ¥3,482
$907 ¥6,505
-46.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,862 ¥34.9K
$12.4K ¥88.6K
-60.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,244 ¥23.3K
$5,786 ¥41.5K
-43.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ningbo
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$848 ¥6,084
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-50.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
4.04
20.05%

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

Last update for Ningbo: October 27, 2025

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

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