Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Chengdu Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Chengdu

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 20.6% more expensive than Chengdu without rent, and 45.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 19% more expensive than Chengdu without rent, and 53.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17 ¥22.75
$2.86 ¥20.51
10.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.46 ¥197
$23.94 ¥172
14.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ¥35.32
$4.83 ¥34.66
1.86%
Cappuccino
$3.19 ¥22.91
$2.86 ¥20.52
11.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.69
$0.44 ¥3.15
15.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.98
$0.28 ¥1.98
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ¥8.7
$1.13 ¥8.1
7.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ¥19.42
$2.07 ¥14.83
30.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥12.87
$1.77 ¥12.66
1.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ¥14.69
$1.47 ¥10.53
39.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.75
$0.93 ¥6.69
31.18%
Eggs
$1.87 ¥13.4
$1.94 ¥13.92
-3.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 ¥91.4
$13.48 ¥96.7
-5.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 ¥27.55
$3.68 ¥26.42
4.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 ¥96.6
$11.11 ¥79.7
21.15%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.06
$1.86 ¥13.33
-2.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ¥10.56
$1.18 ¥8.48
24.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.03
$1.44 ¥10.31
26.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.4 ¥10.01
$1.02 ¥7.32
37.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.85
$0.71 ¥5.08
53.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.43
$0.74 ¥5.32
95.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ¥5.33
$0.6 ¥4.28
23.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.35
$0.58 ¥4.15
5.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.4 ¥24.37
$3.24 ¥23.27
4.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.61 ¥90.5
$6.92 ¥49.63
82.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.9 ¥6.43
$0.93 ¥6.68
-3.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 ¥13.66
$1.85 ¥13.3
2.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥3.09
$0.44 ¥3.13
-2.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 ¥160
$27.31 ¥196
-18.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ¥12.3
$1.22 ¥8.74
40.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.5
$0.28 ¥2.02
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 ¥48.33
$4.16 ¥29.86
62.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.04
$1.13 ¥8.11
-0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ¥165.8K
$18.6K ¥133.6K
24.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ¥145.2K
$16.4K ¥118K
23.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.1 ¥482
$45.03 ¥323
49.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.16 ¥58.6
$11.42 ¥81.9
-28.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.86 ¥92.2
$11.71 ¥84
9.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 ¥361
$23.72 ¥170
112.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.3 ¥124
$11.5 ¥82.5
50.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.1 ¥50.9
$5.68 ¥40.78
25.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 ¥3,267
$335 ¥2,400
36.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K ¥147.8K
$12.3K ¥88.3K
67.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.43 ¥355
$37.28 ¥267
32.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29 ¥217
$39.32 ¥282
-22.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ¥537
$65.8 ¥472
13.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8 ¥558
$49.78 ¥357
56.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 ¥5,220
$314 ¥2,254
131.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ¥2,915
$182 ¥1,309
122.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$624 ¥4,478
172.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$907 ¥6,505
$324 ¥2,321
180.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.4K ¥88.6K
$4,049 ¥29K
205.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,786 ¥41.5K
$2,039 ¥14.6K
183.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Chengdu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$940 ¥6,741
81.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
4.21
-4.04%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chengdu: October 27, 2025

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