Cost of Living Comparison Between Putian and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Putian and Shenzhen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $524 in Putian versus $1,139 in Shenzhen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $853 in Putian versus $1,731 in Shenzhen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,183 in Putian versus $2,322 in Shenzhen.

Living in Putian costs roughly 54% less than in Shenzhen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Putian 62% lower, Shenzhen 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 ¥15.11

$4.02 ¥26.92

-44.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.31 ¥156

$29.93 ¥201

-22.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.36 ¥35.89

$5.28 ¥35.38

1.52%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ¥16.98

$3.36 ¥22.49

-24.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ¥2.92

$0.54 ¥3.64

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ¥2.09

$0.36 ¥2.39

-13.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 ¥5.08

$1.46 ¥9.77

-47.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ¥19.65

$2.25 ¥15.09

30.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ¥10.24

$1.63 ¥10.92

-6.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 ¥15.16

$1.79 ¥12.00

26.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ¥6.65

$1.18 ¥7.88

-16.10%

Eggs

$1.62 ¥10.85

$1.69 ¥11.32

-4.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.91 ¥79.8

$22.03 ¥148

-45.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.44 ¥16.35

$3.62 ¥24.23

-32.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 ¥80.8

$14.16 ¥94.9

-14.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ¥17.50

$2.19 ¥14.65

19.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ¥9.58

$1.55 ¥10.39

-7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 ¥11.14

$1.89 ¥12.69

-12.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 ¥13.53

$1.48 ¥9.89

36.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.32

$1.18 ¥7.94

-20.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.84 ¥12.33

$1.53 ¥10.28

20.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ¥5.86

$0.54 ¥3.63

61.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.60

$0.58 ¥3.89

-6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 ¥20.41

$4.54 ¥30.40

-32.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.96 ¥73.5

$12.65 ¥84.8

-13.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.64

$0.91 ¥6.08

-7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 ¥11.48

$1.85 ¥12.38

-7.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 ¥4.85

$0.61 ¥4.12

18.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.92 ¥147

$22.16 ¥148

-1.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ¥9.81

$1.47 ¥9.88

-0.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ¥2.08

$0.40 ¥2.68

-22.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 ¥46.46

$7.25 ¥48.62

-4.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ¥8.52

$1.25 ¥8.36

1.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.1K ¥127.9K

$19.1K ¥127.8K

0.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.2K ¥115.3K

$18.1K ¥121.5K

-5.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$43.23 ¥290

$61.6 ¥413

-29.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.56 ¥57.4

$9.91 ¥66.4

-13.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.20 ¥68.4

$15.09 ¥101

-32.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.53 ¥332

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 ¥114

Cinema Ticket

$10.15 ¥68.0

$7.35 ¥49.27

38.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$481 ¥3,221

$525 ¥3,516

-8.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K ¥159.9K

$24.0K ¥161.1K

-0.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.04 ¥262

$49.95 ¥335

-21.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.01 ¥194

$40.26 ¥270

-27.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 ¥702

$69.2 ¥464

51.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 ¥582

$86.2 ¥578

0.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ¥5,144

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥3,125

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 ¥12.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$855 ¥5,732

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,607 ¥17.5K

$13.4K ¥90.0K

-80.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,136 ¥7,615

$6,284 ¥42.1K

-81.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 ¥3,194

$1,688 ¥11.3K

-71.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.46

3.4

1.76%

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

Last update for Putian: August 31, 2026

Last update for Shenzhen: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Shenzhen pays 254% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Putian vs $30.00 in Shenzhen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $257 per month, with Putian cheaper across the board.

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

Putian vs Shenzhen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Putian is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 254% lower in Shenzhen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $481 in Putian versus $525 in Shenzhen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Shenzhen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $524 in Putian versus $1,139 in Shenzhen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Putian but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Putian the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Putian gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.