Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Changshu Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Changshu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $709 in Changshu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,130 in Changshu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,551 in Changshu.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 46% more expensive than Changshu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Changshu 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.19

$2.81 ¥19.05

11.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$21.75 ¥147

26.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.28

$4.91 ¥33.29

3.05%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.53

$3.07 ¥20.77

8.47%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.44 ¥2.96

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.27 ¥1.81

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.29

$0.87 ¥5.90

40.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.15

$2.05 ¥13.86

38.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.73

$1.88 ¥12.77

-7.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.36

$1.56 ¥10.53

26.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.35

$0.95 ¥6.40

29.47%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.11

$1.55 ¥10.47

25.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.4

$12.87 ¥87.2

-0.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.45

$3.22 ¥21.79

25.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.2

$10.32 ¥69.9

30.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$1.80 ¥12.16

4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.54

$1.22 ¥8.24

15.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.33

$1.49 ¥10.06

22.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.09

$1.10 ¥7.47

21.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.10

$0.74 ¥5.00

41.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.92

$0.96 ¥6.50

52.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.56 ¥3.80

26.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.55 ¥3.76

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.90

$3.15 ¥21.33

7.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.5

$10.59 ¥71.8

22.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.39

$0.79 ¥5.32

18.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.66

$1.57 ¥10.66

19.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.29 ¥1.98

37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$16.75 ¥113

29.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.03

$1.43 ¥9.69

13.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.33 ¥2.21

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.52

$6.85 ¥46.42

2.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.99

$1.12 ¥7.62

5.36%

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

$22.9K ¥155.0K

$19.6K ¥132.4K

17.06%

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

$20.7K ¥140.4K

$17.3K ¥117.3K

19.69%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$44.27 ¥300

47.57%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$9.92 ¥67.2

-17.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.4

$11.49 ¥77.8

13.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$41.00 ¥278

22.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$13.92 ¥94.3

24.93%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.49

$6.04 ¥40.91

13.58%

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

$457 ¥3,094

$335 ¥2,268

36.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.2K

$17.1K ¥116.1K

21.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥334

$43.70 ¥296

12.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥208

$30.70 ¥208

-0.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥503

$72.3 ¥490

2.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥543

$72.2 ¥489

11.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,990

$274 ¥1,854

169.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,785

$196 ¥1,327

109.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.5K

$602 ¥4,079

180.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,116

$366 ¥2,478

146.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.0K

$3,045 ¥20.6K

331.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$2,017 ¥13.7K

208.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Changshu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $274 in Changshu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Shenzhen vs $22.00 in Changshu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $199 per month, with Changshu 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 Changshu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changshu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,556 in Shenzhen and $1,064 in Changshu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Shenzhen versus $274 in Changshu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Changshu – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $28.00 in Shenzhen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,037 per month in Shenzhen versus $709 in Changshu – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $709 in Changshu versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Changshu but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Changshu 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.

Safety-wise, Shenzhen and Changshu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Changshu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.