Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Qingdao, Shandong and Shenzhen

🙂 Solo nomad: Qingdao, Shandong is 4.8% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 24.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Qingdao, Shandong is 7.7% cheaper than Shenzhen without rent, and 25.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.41 ¥24.46
$3.17 ¥22.75
7.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.17 ¥130
$27.46 ¥197
-33.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.52 ¥32.4
$4.92 ¥35.32
-8.13%
Cappuccino
$3.42 ¥24.52
$3.19 ¥22.91
7.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.51 ¥3.69
13.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.23
$0.28 ¥1.98
10.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ¥6.24
$1.21 ¥8.7
-28.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ¥14.54
$2.71 ¥19.42
-25.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ¥14
$1.79 ¥12.87
8.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 ¥10.9
$2.05 ¥14.69
-25.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.59
$1.22 ¥8.75
-24.59%
Eggs
$1.89 ¥13.55
$1.87 ¥13.4
1.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.68 ¥105
$12.74 ¥91.4
15.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.23 ¥30.37
$3.84 ¥27.55
10.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.18 ¥73
$13.46 ¥96.6
-24.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 ¥9.8
$1.82 ¥13.06
-24.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 ¥8.26
$1.47 ¥10.56
-21.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 ¥13.71
$1.82 ¥13.03
4.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 ¥7.27
$1.4 ¥10.01
-27.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.36
$1.09 ¥7.85
-31.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.79
$1.45 ¥10.43
-24.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ¥6.72
$0.74 ¥5.33
27.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.37
$0.61 ¥4.35
-22.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98 ¥28.54
$3.4 ¥24.37
17.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.84 ¥99.3
$12.61 ¥90.5
9.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ¥7.44
$0.9 ¥6.43
15.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ¥11.32
$1.9 ¥13.66
-16.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.3 ¥2.17
$0.43 ¥3.09
-30.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.62 ¥119
$22.34 ¥160
-25.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ¥10.24
$1.71 ¥12.3
-16.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 ¥2.27
$0.35 ¥2.5
-8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.5 ¥53.8
$6.74 ¥48.33
11.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥7.98
$1.12 ¥8.04
-0.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K ¥143K
$23.1K ¥165.8K
-13.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.3K ¥95.2K
$20.2K ¥145.2K
-34.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.4 ¥376
$67.1 ¥482
-21.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92 ¥78.4
$8.16 ¥58.6
33.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.39 ¥74.5
$12.86 ¥92.2
-19.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.42 ¥190
$50.3 ¥361
-47.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.84 ¥149
$17.3 ¥124
20.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.88 ¥49.31
$7.1 ¥50.9
-3.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$336 ¥2,412
$455 ¥3,267
-26.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K ¥176.6K
$20.6K ¥147.8K
19.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.9 ¥559
$49.43 ¥355
57.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.63 ¥277
$30.29 ¥217
27.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 ¥572
$74.9 ¥537
6.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ¥735
$77.8 ¥558
31.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$342 ¥2,456
$728 ¥5,220
-52.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 ¥1,365
$406 ¥2,915
-53.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ¥5,233
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-57.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$415 ¥2,976
$907 ¥6,505
-54.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,925 ¥28.2K
$12.4K ¥88.6K
-68.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,394 ¥17.2K
$5,786 ¥41.5K
-58.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Qingdao, Shandong
Shenzhen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$941 ¥6,750
$1,702 ¥12.2K
-44.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.04
-5.69%

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

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: October 29, 2025

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

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