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: $1,139 in Shenzhen versus $713 in Changshu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,731 in Shenzhen versus $1,130 in Changshu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,322 in Shenzhen versus $1,548 in Changshu.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 60% more expensive than in Changshu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 17% lower, Changshu 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 ¥26.95

$2.71 ¥18.17

48.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.93 ¥201

$21.58 ¥145

38.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ¥35.42

$4.75 ¥31.88

11.16%

Cappuccino

$3.36 ¥22.52

$3.09 ¥20.76

8.74%

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

$0.54 ¥3.64

$0.46 ¥3.09

17.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.39

$0.27 ¥1.79

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.78

$0.96 ¥6.41

52.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ¥15.11

$2.12 ¥14.23

6.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.93

$1.79 ¥11.99

-8.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.02

$1.53 ¥10.30

16.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.89

$0.94 ¥6.33

25.53%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.34

$1.60 ¥10.77

5.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.03 ¥148

$13.00 ¥87.2

69.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ¥24.26

$3.28 ¥22.04

10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 ¥95.0

$10.34 ¥69.4

36.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 ¥14.67

$1.80 ¥12.06

21.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ¥10.40

$1.21 ¥8.12

28.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ¥12.71

$1.49 ¥10.01

26.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$1.14 ¥7.63

29.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.95

$0.74 ¥4.94

59.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.30

$0.88 ¥5.93

73.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ¥3.63

$0.59 ¥3.97

-8.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ¥3.90

$0.52 ¥3.46

11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 ¥30.44

$3.05 ¥20.46

48.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 ¥84.9

$10.68 ¥71.7

18.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ¥6.09

$0.80 ¥5.40

13.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥12.39

$1.67 ¥11.19

10.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 ¥4.13

$0.29 ¥1.96

110.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.16 ¥149

$16.38 ¥110

35.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ¥9.89

$1.36 ¥9.11

8.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 ¥2.69

$0.36 ¥2.39

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.25 ¥48.68

$6.84 ¥45.89

5.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥8.37

$1.13 ¥7.59

10.62%

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

$19.1K ¥127.9K

$19.8K ¥132.8K

-3.67%

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

$18.1K ¥121.7K

$17.1K ¥114.9K

5.94%

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

$61.6 ¥413

$44.75 ¥300

37.56%

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

$9.91 ¥66.5

$10.06 ¥67.5

-1.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.09 ¥101

$11.55 ¥77.5

30.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.53 ¥332

$41.37 ¥278

19.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 ¥114

$14.13 ¥94.8

20.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.35 ¥49.34

$5.75 ¥38.61

27.83%

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

$525 ¥3,520

$333 ¥2,236

57.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥161.3K

$16.8K ¥112.9K

42.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.95 ¥335

$43.17 ¥290

15.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 ¥270

$30.34 ¥204

32.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ¥464

$72.7 ¥488

-4.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.2 ¥578

$72.7 ¥488

18.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ¥5,150

$284 ¥1,905

170.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥3,129

$195 ¥1,311

138.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 ¥12.2K

$594 ¥3,985

206.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$855 ¥5,739

$360 ¥2,414

137.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K ¥90.1K

$3,059 ¥20.5K

339.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,284 ¥42.2K

$2,052 ¥13.8K

206.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,688 ¥11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

3.89

-12.60%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: August 31, 2026

Last update for Changshu: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $768 in Shenzhen and $284 in Changshu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in Shenzhen vs $22.00 in Changshu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 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 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,709 in Shenzhen and $1,069 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: $768 in Shenzhen versus $284 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 $30.00 in Shenzhen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,139 per month in Shenzhen versus $713 in Changshu – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $713 in Changshu versus $1,139 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 60% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.