Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Dongguan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Dongguan

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 9.4% more expensive than Dongguan without rent, and 35.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 14.5% more expensive than Dongguan without rent, and 40.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17 ¥22.75
$2.43 ¥17.4
30.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.46 ¥197
$20.54 ¥147
33.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ¥35.32
$4.42 ¥31.68
11.31%
Cappuccino
$3.19 ¥22.91
$2.67 ¥19.17
19.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.69
$0.44 ¥3.18
15.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.98
$0.29 ¥2.1
-3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ¥8.7
$1.13 ¥8.11
7.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ¥19.42
$2.27 ¥16.27
19.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥12.87
$1.7 ¥12.22
5.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ¥14.69
$1.48 ¥10.62
38.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.75
$0.96 ¥6.89
27.08%
Eggs
$1.87 ¥13.4
$1.8 ¥12.93
3.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 ¥91.4
$12.61 ¥90.4
1.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 ¥27.55
$3.88 ¥27.82
-1.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 ¥96.6
$11.65 ¥83.6
15.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.06
$1.81 ¥13
0.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ¥10.56
$1.43 ¥10.22
2.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.03
$1.8 ¥12.9
1.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.4 ¥10.01
$1.36 ¥9.76
2.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.85
$0.94 ¥6.72
15.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.43
$1.46 ¥10.44
-0.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ¥5.33
$0.63 ¥4.49
17.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.35
$0.59 ¥4.21
3.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.4 ¥24.37
$2.76 ¥19.79
23.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.61 ¥90.5
$12.42 ¥89.1
1.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.9 ¥6.43
$0.87 ¥6.24
3.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 ¥13.66
$1.93 ¥13.87
-1.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥3.09
$0.29 ¥2.09
48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 ¥160
$20.85 ¥150
7.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ¥12.3
$1.23 ¥8.8
39.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.5
$0.38 ¥2.7
-7.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 ¥48.33
$5.44 ¥39.05
23.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.04
$1.18 ¥8.47
-5.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ¥165.8K
$20.6K ¥147.7K
12.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ¥145.2K
$20.4K ¥146.2K
-0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.1 ¥482
$62.6 ¥449
7.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.16 ¥58.6
$8.38 ¥60.1
-2.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.86 ¥92.2
$12.1 ¥86.8
6.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 ¥361
$61 ¥437
-17.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.3 ¥124
$13.26 ¥95.1
30.47%
Cinema Ticket
$7.1 ¥50.9
$6.81 ¥48.83
4.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 ¥3,267
$454 ¥3,257
0.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K ¥147.8K
$20.7K ¥148.8K
-0.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.43 ¥355
$29.74 ¥213
66.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29 ¥217
$24.67 ¥177
22.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ¥537
$62.2 ¥446
20.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8 ¥558
$38.06 ¥273
104.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 ¥5,220
$362 ¥2,598
100.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ¥2,915
$213 ¥1,528
90.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$670 ¥4,802
154.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$907 ¥6,505
$419 ¥3,004
116.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.4K ¥88.6K
$6,873 ¥49.3K
79.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,786 ¥41.5K
$3,541 ¥25.4K
63.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$763 ¥5,476
123.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
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 Dongguan: October 26, 2025

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