Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Chongqing Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Chongqing

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Shenzhen vs $634 in Chongqing, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,665 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,031 in Chongqing, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,326 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,429 in Chongqing, rent included.

Shenzhen costs about 58% more than Chongqing, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shenzhen and Chongqing are more affordable than the global median – Shenzhen 25% lower, Chongqing 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.25 ¥22.26

$2.73 ¥18.66

19.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.62 ¥189

$21.15 ¥145

30.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ¥34.01

$4.98 ¥34.09

-0.20%

Cappuccino

$3.19 ¥21.84

$2.38 ¥16.25

34.03%

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

$0.49 ¥3.33

$0.44 ¥3.00

11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.06

$0.29 ¥1.98

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.23 ¥8.40

$0.95 ¥6.50

29.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ¥18.76

$2.13 ¥14.57

28.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 ¥12.38

$1.78 ¥12.16

1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.02 ¥13.79

$1.25 ¥8.52

61.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥8.06

$0.73 ¥4.96

61.64%

Eggs

$1.91 ¥13.03

$1.86 ¥12.70

2.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.94 ¥88.5

$15.87 ¥109

-18.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 ¥26.82

$2.51 ¥17.14

56.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 ¥92.5

$10.37 ¥70.9

30.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.87

$1.48 ¥10.11

27.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.62

$1.31 ¥8.94

7.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.39

$1.07 ¥7.34

69.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.68

$1.13 ¥7.75

25.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.53

$0.65 ¥4.44

69.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.70

$0.90 ¥6.12

57.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ¥4.82

$0.54 ¥3.67

29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.88

$0.63 ¥4.31

-9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ¥23.70

$3.15 ¥21.57

9.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 ¥98.8

$8.89 ¥60.8

62.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥6.08

$0.96 ¥6.56

-7.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ¥13.21

$1.98 ¥13.55

-2.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.99

$0.27 ¥1.84

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.10 ¥151

$25.11 ¥172

-11.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 ¥11.26

$1.41 ¥9.61

17.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ¥2.36

$0.30 ¥2.03

13.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 ¥47.72

$2.71 ¥18.54

157.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥7.98

$1.11 ¥7.59

5.41%

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

$22.9K ¥156.5K

$18.3K ¥125.4K

24.82%

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

$20.1K ¥137.3K

$16.3K ¥111.5K

23.13%

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

$65.9 ¥451

$35.98 ¥246

83.24%

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

$8.28 ¥56.7

$6.04 ¥41.33

37.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.18 ¥90.2

$8.45 ¥57.8

55.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.5 ¥345

$21.73 ¥149

132.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.15 ¥117

$15.95 ¥109

7.52%

Cinema Ticket

$7.16 ¥48.94

$5.46 ¥37.31

31.14%

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

$456 ¥3,118

$331 ¥2,264

37.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.5K ¥140.3K

$27.4K ¥187.5K

-25.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.35 ¥331

$29.34 ¥201

64.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.39 ¥208

$28.75 ¥197

5.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ¥525

$58.5 ¥400

31.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.6 ¥531

$60.0 ¥410

29.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$731 ¥5,000

$266 ¥1,818

174.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 ¥2,749

$158 ¥1,083

153.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 ¥11.3K

$582 ¥3,979

184.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$911 ¥6,233

$324 ¥2,214

181.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K ¥88.5K

$2,569 ¥17.6K

403.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,077 ¥41.6K

$1,657 ¥11.3K

266.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,647 ¥11.3K

$1,041 ¥7,123

58.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.74

8.02%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: April 20, 2026

Last update for Chongqing: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $731 in Shenzhen versus $266 in Chongqing. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 58% higher in Shenzhen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28 in Shenzhen versus $21 in Chongqing. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $197 – making Chongqing the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Chongqing: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shenzhen is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,505 per month in Shenzhen and $951 in Chongqing. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chongqing, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $456 per month in Shenzhen and $331 in Chongqing. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Shenzhen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chongqing, where all-in costs run around $634, than in Shenzhen at $1,003. In Chongqing it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shenzhen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chongqing – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Chongqing. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shenzhen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.