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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,032 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,073 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,649 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,769 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

A family of three spends $2,266 per month in Shenzhen vs $2,464 in Beijing (Pekin), rent included.

Shenzhen is about 4% cheaper than Beijing (Pekin), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shenzhen and Beijing (Pekin) are more affordable than the global median – Shenzhen 23% lower, Beijing (Pekin) 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.17

$4.29 ¥29.02

-27.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.60 ¥187

$28.28 ¥191

-2.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 ¥32.97

$5.19 ¥35.13

-6.17%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥22.46

$3.08 ¥20.87

7.79%

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

$0.48 ¥3.27

$0.42 ¥2.87

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.28 ¥1.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ¥8.22

$1.08 ¥7.33

12.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ¥18.76

$2.05 ¥13.88

35.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥11.83

$1.67 ¥11.28

4.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.33

$1.61 ¥10.88

22.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.97

$1.12 ¥7.57

5.36%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.96

$1.71 ¥11.57

12.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 ¥85.9

$15.76 ¥107

-19.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ¥26.61

$3.19 ¥21.59

23.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 ¥90.6

$9.85 ¥66.6

35.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ¥12.63

$2.09 ¥14.16

-10.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.90

$1.66 ¥11.24

-12.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.29

$1.77 ¥11.98

2.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 ¥9.44

$1.27 ¥8.61

9.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.40

$0.85 ¥5.79

28.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.61

$0.91 ¥6.14

56.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ¥5.05

$0.67 ¥4.52

11.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.85

$0.52 ¥3.51

9.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ¥22.94

$3.44 ¥23.29

-1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.61 ¥85.4

$14.79 ¥100

-14.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.27

$0.86 ¥5.79

8.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ¥12.87

$1.74 ¥11.79

9.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.55 ¥3.72

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.23 ¥150

$31.84 ¥215

-30.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ¥11.40

$1.84 ¥12.48

-8.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.54

$0.35 ¥2.37

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 ¥45.65

$10.33 ¥69.9

-34.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥7.72

$1.14 ¥7.70

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

$22.7K ¥153.7K

$18.9K ¥127.6K

20.40%

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

$20.7K ¥140.0K

$15.9K ¥107.6K

30.06%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$51.5 ¥349

26.82%

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

$8.39 ¥56.8

$8.84 ¥59.8

-5.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.08 ¥88.5

$12.44 ¥84.2

5.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ¥345

$49.69 ¥336

2.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.60 ¥119

$18.49 ¥125

-4.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 ¥47.89

$8.29 ¥56.1

-14.60%

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

$467 ¥3,159

$679 ¥4,595

-31.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K ¥140.0K

$23.5K ¥158.9K

-11.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.53 ¥328

$62.7 ¥424

-22.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 ¥205

$34.13 ¥231

-11.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ¥506

$77.0 ¥521

-2.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 ¥537

$100 ¥680

-21.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ¥4,953

$894 ¥6,053

-18.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 ¥2,777

$464 ¥3,138

-11.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,699 ¥11.5K

$1,906 ¥12.9K

-10.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 ¥6,157

$1,077 ¥7,288

-15.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K ¥87.4K

$12.6K ¥85.2K

2.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,000 ¥40.6K

$6,257 ¥42.3K

-4.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,720 ¥11.6K

$1,569 ¥10.6K

9.58%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $732 in Shenzhen versus $894 in Beijing (Pekin). Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Shenzhen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Shenzhen versus $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin). Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Shenzhen vs $221 in Beijing (Pekin) – so Beijing (Pekin) wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Shenzhen vs Beijing (Pekin): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Beijing (Pekin) is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,549 per month in Shenzhen and $1,610 in Beijing (Pekin). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shenzhen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Shenzhen and $28.00 in Beijing (Pekin). That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,032 in Shenzhen and $1,073 in Beijing (Pekin). The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shenzhen, where all-in costs run around $1,032, than in Beijing (Pekin) at $1,073. In Shenzhen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beijing (Pekin) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shenzhen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Shenzhen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beijing (Pekin) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.