Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Beijing (Pekin) Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Beijing (Pekin)

🙂 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 2.1% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin) without rent, and 3.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 1.8% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin) without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17 ¥22.75
$4.08 ¥29.26
-22.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.46 ¥197
$27.3 ¥196
0.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ¥35.32
$5.17 ¥37.06
-4.84%
Cappuccino
$3.19 ¥22.91
$3.09 ¥22.18
3.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.69
$0.45 ¥3.26
13.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.98
$0.3 ¥2.17
-6.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ¥8.7
$1.09 ¥7.8
11.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ¥19.42
$2.13 ¥15.27
27.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥12.87
$1.69 ¥12.1
5.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ¥14.69
$1.64 ¥11.74
25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.75
$1.07 ¥7.66
14.02%
Eggs
$1.87 ¥13.4
$1.67 ¥12.01
11.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 ¥91.4
$16.01 ¥115
-20.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 ¥27.55
$3.19 ¥22.88
20.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 ¥96.6
$9.51 ¥68.2
41.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.06
$2.07 ¥14.88
-12.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ¥10.56
$1.57 ¥11.28
-6.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.03
$1.8 ¥12.93
1.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.4 ¥10.01
$1.29 ¥9.23
8.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.85
$0.84 ¥5.99
29.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.43
$0.91 ¥6.55
59.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ¥5.33
$0.67 ¥4.83
10.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.35
$0.52 ¥3.74
17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.4 ¥24.37
$3.45 ¥24.73
-1.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.61 ¥90.5
$8.69 ¥62.3
45.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.9 ¥6.43
$0.8 ¥5.73
12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 ¥13.66
$1.75 ¥12.58
8.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥3.09
$0.54 ¥3.85
-20.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 ¥160
$31.25 ¥224
-28.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ¥12.3
$1.78 ¥12.73
-3.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.5
$0.33 ¥2.36
6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 ¥48.33
$10.64 ¥76.4
-36.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.04
$1.14 ¥8.19
-1.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ¥165.8K
$18.7K ¥134.5K
23.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ¥145.2K
$15.6K ¥111.9K
29.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.1 ¥482
$52.2 ¥375
28.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.16 ¥58.6
$8.86 ¥63.6
-7.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.86 ¥92.2
$12.53 ¥89.9
2.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 ¥361
$48.38 ¥347
3.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.3 ¥124
$18.48 ¥133
-6.39%
Cinema Ticket
$7.1 ¥50.9
$8.32 ¥59.7
-14.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 ¥3,267
$664 ¥4,766
-31.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K ¥147.8K
$24K ¥172.3K
-14.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.43 ¥355
$61.3 ¥440
-19.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29 ¥217
$35.24 ¥253
-14.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ¥537
$79.9 ¥573
-6.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8 ¥558
$101 ¥725
-23.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 ¥5,220
$892 ¥6,397
-18.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ¥2,915
$451 ¥3,234
-9.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$1,946 ¥14K
-12.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$907 ¥6,505
$1,092 ¥7,836
-16.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.4K ¥88.6K
$14.7K ¥105.4K
-15.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,786 ¥41.5K
$6,282 ¥45.1K
-7.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Beijing (Pekin)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$1,425 ¥10.2K
19.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
3.64
10.99%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): October 28, 2025

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