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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shantou is 12.6% cheaper than Xiamen without rent, and 11.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shantou is 7.1% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 15.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05 ¥14.18
$2.87 ¥19.87
-28.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.55 ¥115
$23.07 ¥160
-28.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ¥33.11
$5.62 ¥38.91
-14.95%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥21.62
$2.86 ¥19.81
9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.05
$0.51 ¥3.52
-13.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.92
$0.29 ¥2.00
-3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.80 ¥5.54
$1.43 ¥9.89
-44.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 ¥18.41
$3.58 ¥24.79
-25.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ¥11.69
$1.81 ¥12.50
-6.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ¥9.77
$2.18 ¥15.10
-35.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ¥5.09
$0.81 ¥5.63
-9.88%
Eggs
$1.93 ¥13.35
$1.34 ¥9.29
44.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.67 ¥87.7
$11.18 ¥77.4
13.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.90 ¥26.96
$2.31 ¥15.96
68.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.25 ¥84.8
$11.18 ¥77.4
9.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 ¥12.98
$2.36 ¥16.36
-20.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 ¥9.80
$1.35 ¥9.32
5.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ¥11.34
$1.50 ¥10.40
9.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 ¥8.40
$1.86 ¥12.87
-34.95%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ¥5.62
$0.95 ¥6.60
-14.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 ¥6.97
$1.65 ¥11.40
-38.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 ¥4.38
$0.83 ¥5.73
-24.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.03
$0.51 ¥3.53
-13.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 ¥23.50
$2.76 ¥19.08
23.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.86 ¥82.1
$11.03 ¥76.3
7.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥5.62
$0.80 ¥5.50
1.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$1.64 ¥11.37
10.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ¥2.51
$0.20 ¥1.38
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.16 ¥153
$11.28 ¥78.1
96.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 ¥10.87
$1.42 ¥9.85
10.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.43
$0.28 ¥1.96
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.52 ¥45.10
$6.86 ¥47.49
-4.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥7.67
$1.19 ¥8.21
-6.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K ¥147.3K
$16.3K ¥112.8K
30.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ¥132.3K
$17.4K ¥120.7K
9.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.4 ¥376
$38.50 ¥266
41.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.25 ¥57.1
$10.05 ¥69.6
-17.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.91 ¥89.3
$9.40 ¥65.1
37.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.87 ¥290
$45.01 ¥312
-6.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06 ¥97.3
$9.52 ¥65.9
47.69%
Cinema Ticket
$7.06 ¥48.82
$9.29 ¥64.3
-24.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 ¥3,149
$452 ¥3,128
0.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K ¥139.6K
$22.6K ¥156.7K
-10.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.56 ¥343
$43.49 ¥301
13.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.30 ¥210
$26.80 ¥185
13.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 ¥525
$84.4 ¥584
-10.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 ¥545
$80.7 ¥559
-2.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 ¥1,925
$331 ¥2,293
-16.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 ¥956
$250 ¥1,727
-44.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$546 ¥3,781
$873 ¥6,039
-37.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$275 ¥1,906
$505 ¥3,492
-45.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,138 ¥14.8K
$8,987 ¥62.2K
-76.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,312 ¥29.8K
$5,187 ¥35.9K
-16.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shantou
Xiamen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,032 ¥7,140
$1,126 ¥7,794
-8.38%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Xiamen: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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