Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Changchun Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Changchun

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,032 in Shenzhen versus $748 in Changchun.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,649 in Shenzhen versus $1,109 in Changchun.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,266 in Shenzhen versus $1,469 in Changchun.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 38% more expensive than in Changchun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Changchun 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.13

$2.77 ¥18.71

13.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.60 ¥187

$20.26 ¥137

36.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 ¥32.92

$4.92 ¥33.27

-1.02%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥22.43

$2.57 ¥17.36

29.18%

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

$0.48 ¥3.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.29 ¥1.97

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ¥8.21

$0.83 ¥5.58

45.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ¥18.73

$2.04 ¥13.77

35.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥11.81

$1.89 ¥12.77

-7.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.31

$1.25 ¥8.42

57.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.96

$1.28 ¥8.67

-7.81%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.94

$1.10 ¥7.45

74.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 ¥85.8

$12.67 ¥85.6

0.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ¥26.56

$3.42 ¥23.08

14.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 ¥90.4

$8.41 ¥56.8

59.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ¥12.61

$1.47 ¥9.90

27.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.89

$1.03 ¥6.95

41.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.27

$0.86 ¥5.81

111.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 ¥9.42

$1.30 ¥8.81

6.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.39

$0.73 ¥4.93

49.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.59

$0.66 ¥4.46

115.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ¥5.04

$0.44 ¥2.94

70.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.84

$0.56 ¥3.76

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ¥22.91

$3.21 ¥21.68

5.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.61 ¥85.2

$11.69 ¥79.0

7.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.26

$0.67 ¥4.50

38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ¥12.86

$0.94 ¥6.36

102.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.97

$0.27 ¥1.81

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.23 ¥150

$16.96 ¥115

31.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ¥11.39

$1.08 ¥7.30

56.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.53

$0.26 ¥1.76

42.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 ¥45.58

$3.43 ¥23.15

96.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥7.70

$1.12 ¥7.55

1.79%

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

$22.7K ¥153.4K

$18.2K ¥122.8K

24.97%

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

$20.7K ¥139.7K

$18.7K ¥126.0K

10.86%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$42.61 ¥288

53.34%

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

$8.39 ¥56.7

$14.76 ¥99.7

-43.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.08 ¥88.4

$14.14 ¥95.6

-7.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ¥344

$42.40 ¥287

20.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.60 ¥119

$3.75 ¥25.35

369.33%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 ¥47.82

$5.00 ¥33.81

41.60%

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

$467 ¥3,154

$284 ¥1,919

64.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K ¥139.8K

$8,474 ¥57.3K

144.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.53 ¥328

$27.58 ¥186

75.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 ¥205

$30.90 ¥209

-2.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ¥505

$74.1 ¥501

0.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 ¥536

$77.5 ¥524

2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ¥4,945

$276 ¥1,864

165.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 ¥2,773

$233 ¥1,577

75.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,699 ¥11.5K

$596 ¥4,024

185.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 ¥6,148

$358 ¥2,420

154.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K ¥87.3K

$1,745 ¥11.8K

640.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,000 ¥40.5K

$993 ¥6,709

504.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,720 ¥11.6K

$942 ¥6,366

82.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

5.27

-23.34%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: July 14, 2026

Last update for Changchun: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $732 in Shenzhen and $276 in Changchun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 83% 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: $28.00 in Shenzhen vs $20.00 in Changchun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $185 per month, with Changchun 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 Changchun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changchun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 83% 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: $732 in Shenzhen versus $276 in Changchun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Changchun runs roughly 31% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $467 in Shenzhen versus $284 in Changchun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $748 in Changchun versus $1,032 in Shenzhen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Changchun but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Changchun 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 Changchun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.