Cost of Living Comparison Between Shantou and Xiamen Cost of Living Comparison Between Shantou and Xiamen

😐 Solo nomad: Shantou is 11.5% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 13.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shantou is 15.3% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 15.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ¥14.57
$2.76 ¥19.79
-26.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.4 ¥118
$23.39 ¥168
-29.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.89 ¥35.11
$5.63 ¥40.41
-13.14%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥22.41
$2.75 ¥19.74
13.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.41
$0.51 ¥3.62
-5.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ¥2.18
$0.31 ¥2.25
-3.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 ¥6.18
$1.41 ¥10.12
-39.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 ¥18.47
$3.52 ¥25.26
-26.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.7 ¥12.18
$1.86 ¥13.37
-8.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ¥10.12
$2.14 ¥15.37
-34.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.89
$0.75 ¥5.41
-9.33%
Eggs
$1.86 ¥13.35
$1.35 ¥9.68
37.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.55 ¥90
$11.04 ¥79.2
13.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 ¥27.1
$2.36 ¥16.91
60.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 ¥85.7
$11.06 ¥79.4
8.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.85 ¥13.31
$2.45 ¥17.55
-24.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 ¥10.49
$1.38 ¥9.88
5.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 ¥12.07
$1.56 ¥11.17
7.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 ¥9.11
$1.82 ¥13.09
-30.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.46
$0.9 ¥6.48
-15.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.67
$1.71 ¥12.28
-45.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.81
$0.81 ¥5.84
-17.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 ¥2.87
$0.51 ¥3.65
-21.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ¥24.44
$2.77 ¥19.85
23.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.46 ¥82.2
$10.51 ¥75.4
9.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.94
$0.8 ¥5.72
3.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 ¥13.65
$1.64 ¥11.77
15.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.22 ¥1.58
63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.16 ¥159
$11.1 ¥79.6
99.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ¥10.83
$1.37 ¥9.79
10.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.51
$0.28 ¥2.03
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ¥47.39
$6.61 ¥47.44
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.1 ¥7.89
$1.13 ¥8.1
-2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ¥149.3K
$16.3K ¥116.7K
27.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ¥139.4K
$17.8K ¥127.7K
9.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.4 ¥390
$39.45 ¥283
37.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$9.96 ¥71.4
-18.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.9 ¥92.6
$9.71 ¥69.7
32.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.68 ¥299
$43.63 ¥313
-4.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.17 ¥102
$9.98 ¥71.6
41.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.86 ¥49.2
$9.6 ¥68.8
-28.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$460 ¥3,303
$459 ¥3,292
0.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K ¥148.8K
$22.7K ¥163K
-8.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.35 ¥347
$42.43 ¥304
13.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.35 ¥218
$27.41 ¥197
10.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76 ¥545
$83.5 ¥599
-8.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7 ¥557
$79.3 ¥569
-2.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 ¥2,029
$335 ¥2,403
-15.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 ¥982
$249 ¥1,784
-44.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$548 ¥3,932
$844 ¥6,056
-35.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$284 ¥2,038
$508 ¥3,646
-44.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,102 ¥15.1K
$8,753 ¥62.8K
-75.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,210 ¥23K
$5,019 ¥36K
-36.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$994 ¥7,127
$847 ¥6,073
17.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
3.56
13.48%

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

Last update for Shantou: October 27, 2025

Last update for Xiamen: October 28, 2025

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