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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $762 in Dongguan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,183 in Dongguan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,605 in Dongguan.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 36% more expensive than Dongguan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Dongguan 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.16

$2.46 ¥16.65

27.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$20.48 ¥138

34.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.22

$4.35 ¥29.40

16.32%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.50

$2.71 ¥18.35

22.88%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.44 ¥3.01

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.29 ¥1.97

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.28

$1.12 ¥7.60

8.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.12

$2.18 ¥14.73

29.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.71

$1.71 ¥11.54

1.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.34

$1.45 ¥9.78

35.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.34

$0.97 ¥6.55

26.80%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.09

$1.80 ¥12.18

7.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.3

$13.01 ¥88.0

-1.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.41

$3.93 ¥26.60

3.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.1

$11.39 ¥77.0

18.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.68

$1.83 ¥12.35

2.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.53

$1.46 ¥9.85

-3.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.31

$1.81 ¥12.22

0.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.08

$1.36 ¥9.17

-1.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.09

$1.01 ¥6.82

3.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.90

$1.46 ¥9.86

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.65 ¥4.41

9.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.82

$0.55 ¥3.73

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.86

$2.82 ¥19.09

19.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.4

$14.55 ¥98.4

-11.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.38

$0.89 ¥6.04

5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.64

$1.86 ¥12.55

0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.29 ¥1.98

37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$21.18 ¥143

2.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.01

$1.28 ¥8.63

27.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.35

$0.35 ¥2.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.44

$5.43 ¥36.73

29.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.98

$1.16 ¥7.86

1.72%

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

$22.9K ¥154.8K

$20.8K ¥140.5K

10.18%

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

$20.7K ¥140.2K

$20.5K ¥138.5K

1.21%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$62.1 ¥420

5.17%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$8.36 ¥56.5

-1.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.2

$12.32 ¥83.3

5.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$60.5 ¥409

-16.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$13.24 ¥89.5

31.34%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.41

$6.87 ¥46.45

-0.15%

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

$457 ¥3,089

$451 ¥3,050

1.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.0K

$20.5K ¥138.9K

1.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥333

$29.57 ¥200

66.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥207

$24.49 ¥166

25.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥502

$61.9 ¥418

20.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥542

$37.57 ¥254

113.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,981

$361 ¥2,442

103.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,780

$216 ¥1,458

90.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.4K

$691 ¥4,674

144.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,106

$406 ¥2,745

122.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.9K

$5,711 ¥38.6K

130.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$3,110 ¥21.0K

100.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$836 ¥5,653

99.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dongguan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $361 in Dongguan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 99% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $28.00 in Shenzhen vs $20.00 in Dongguan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $220 per month, with Dongguan 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 Dongguan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dongguan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Shenzhen pays 99% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Shenzhen versus $361 in Dongguan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Dongguan runs roughly 3% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $457 in Shenzhen versus $451 in Dongguan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $762 in Dongguan versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dongguan but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Dongguan 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.

Expats usually find Dongguan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.