Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Changsha Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Changsha

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 0.2% more expensive than Changsha without rent, and 35.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 3.5% more expensive than Changsha without rent, and 35.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.18 Β₯21.99
$2.75 Β₯19.01
15.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.99 Β₯193
$21.21 Β₯147
31.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 Β₯34.93
$4.73 Β₯32.65
6.77%
Cappuccino
$3.33 Β₯22.98
$2.95 Β₯20.42
12.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Β₯3.38
$0.46 Β₯3.18
6.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 Β₯2.07
$0.25 Β₯1.71
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.28 Β₯8.87
$1.13 Β₯7.84
13.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 Β₯19.45
$1.90 Β₯13.13
47.89%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Β₯12.51
$1.98 Β₯13.69
-8.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 Β₯14.02
$2.37 Β₯16.35
-14.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 Β₯8.44
$0.92 Β₯6.37
32.61%
Eggs
$1.86 Β₯12.86
$1.67 Β₯11.56
11.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 Β₯89.7
$15.73 Β₯109
-17.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Β₯27.95
$3.10 Β₯21.45
30.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.37 Β₯92.4
$9.02 Β₯62.3
48.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 Β₯12.54
$1.83 Β₯12.63
-0.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 Β₯10.04
$1.33 Β₯9.17
9.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 Β₯12.34
$1.73 Β₯11.93
3.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 Β₯9.32
$1.81 Β₯12.50
-25.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 Β₯7.32
$0.95 Β₯6.56
11.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 Β₯9.85
$1.53 Β₯10.59
-6.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 Β₯4.81
$0.50 Β₯3.49
40.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 Β₯4.18
$0.43 Β₯2.95
41.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 Β₯24.75
$2.75 Β₯18.99
30.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 Β₯92.7
$12.06 Β₯83.4
11.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 Β₯6.07
$0.91 Β₯6.31
-3.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 Β₯13.21
$1.49 Β₯10.27
28.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 Β₯2.79
$0.34 Β₯2.33
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.87 Β₯151
$13.69 Β₯94.6
59.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.64 Β₯11.34
$1.22 Β₯8.42
34.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Β₯2.41
$0.26 Β₯1.79
34.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.88 Β₯47.56
$8.57 Β₯59.2
-19.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 Β₯8.07
$1.18 Β₯8.17
-0.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K Β₯159.3K
$20.4K Β₯141.0K
12.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K Β₯143.2K
$21.6K Β₯149.4K
-4.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.6 Β₯453
$43.74 Β₯302
49.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30 Β₯57.3
$12.61 Β₯87.2
-34.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.03 Β₯90.0
$14.89 Β₯103
-12.49%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.30 Β₯341
$57.0 Β₯394
-13.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.51 Β₯121
$22.60 Β₯156
-22.52%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07 Β₯48.86
$5.96 Β₯41.17
18.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 Β₯3,138
$322 Β₯2,228
40.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K Β₯141.6K
$7,273 Β₯50.3K
181.84%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.31 Β₯334
$84.1 Β₯581
-42.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67 Β₯212
$30.90 Β₯214
-0.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 Β₯522
$82.4 Β₯569
-8.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Β₯538
$68.9 Β₯476
13.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$755 Β₯5,220
$205 Β₯1,415
268.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 Β₯2,796
$168 Β₯1,159
141.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 Β₯11.5K
$517 Β₯3,572
221.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 Β₯6,238
$364 Β₯2,514
148.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.5K Β₯93.3K
$2,361 Β₯16.3K
471.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,851 Β₯40.4K
$1,350 Β₯9,328
333.39%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Changsha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,625 Β₯11.2K
$1,181 Β₯8,159
37.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
3.89
3.86%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: March 2, 2026

Last update for Changsha: February 28, 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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