Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Bortala Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Bortala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,108 in Shenzhen versus $733 in Bortala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Shenzhen versus $1,173 in Bortala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,397 in Shenzhen versus $1,613 in Bortala.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 51% more expensive than in Bortala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 19% lower, Bortala 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.68 ¥24.66

$3.06 ¥20.48

20.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 ¥201

$22.45 ¥150

33.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ¥34.36

$5.13 ¥34.37

Cappuccino

$3.26 ¥21.81

$2.68 ¥17.95

21.64%

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

$0.58 ¥3.86

$0.50 ¥3.33

16.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ¥2.37

$0.30 ¥2.01

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ¥9.73

$1.00 ¥6.72

45.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ¥15.23

$2.04 ¥13.64

11.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.91

$1.88 ¥12.60

-13.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 ¥12.47

$1.67 ¥11.17

11.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ¥8.17

$0.92 ¥6.18

32.61%

Eggs

$1.72 ¥11.55

$1.58 ¥10.60

8.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.88 ¥147

$13.47 ¥90.3

62.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ¥24.13

$3.49 ¥23.39

3.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 ¥96.1

$11.15 ¥74.7

28.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ¥15.06

$1.82 ¥12.21

23.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ¥10.64

$1.26 ¥8.44

26.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.61

$1.52 ¥10.21

23.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$1.30 ¥8.73

13.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.23

$0.71 ¥4.78

73.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$0.96 ¥6.45

54.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ¥3.88

$0.63 ¥4.23

-7.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.62

$0.55 ¥3.69

-1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.40 ¥29.51

$3.62 ¥24.28

21.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.74 ¥85.4

$9.79 ¥65.6

30.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ¥6.59

$0.79 ¥5.29

24.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥12.15

$1.62 ¥10.82

11.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 ¥4.20

$0.32 ¥2.12

96.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.30 ¥149

$18.32 ¥123

21.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ¥9.79

$1.43 ¥9.57

2.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.51

$0.35 ¥2.37

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.09 ¥47.52

$6.44 ¥43.12

10.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥8.77

$1.23 ¥8.22

6.50%

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

$19.4K ¥129.8K

$19.7K ¥132.0K

-1.69%

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

$18.4K ¥123.3K

$18.5K ¥124.1K

-0.70%

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

$62.1 ¥416

$57.2 ¥383

8.66%

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

$10.07 ¥67.5

$8.38 ¥56.2

20.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 ¥99.9

$11.27 ¥75.5

32.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ¥326

$40.54 ¥272

20.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.94 ¥113

$14.57 ¥97.7

16.27%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ¥50.2

$6.40 ¥42.90

16.88%

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

$535 ¥3,583

$452 ¥3,026

18.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥160.9K

$18.7K ¥125.0K

28.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.75 ¥333

$41.90 ¥281

18.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 ¥265

$29.12 ¥195

35.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 ¥467

$73.1 ¥489

-4.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.5 ¥586

$80.9 ¥542

8.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ¥5,039

$264 ¥1,770

184.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ¥3,118

$171 ¥1,149

171.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 ¥12.2K

$575 ¥3,856

216.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 ¥5,777

$328 ¥2,197

162.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.0K

$3,413 ¥22.9K

284.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,442 ¥43.2K

$1,747 ¥11.7K

268.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,732 ¥11.6K

$634 ¥4,246

173.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

3.38

0.59%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: September 13, 2026

Last update for Bortala: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Shenzhen and $264 in Bortala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 173% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Shenzhen vs $22.00 in Bortala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $206 per month, with Bortala cheaper across the board.

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 Bortala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bortala wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bortala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 173% higher in Shenzhen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $752 in Shenzhen versus $264 in Bortala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,108 per month in Shenzhen versus $733 in Bortala – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bortala runs roughly 22% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $733 in Bortala versus $1,108 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bortala but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Bortala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bortala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.