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

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 10.4% more expensive than Dongguan without rent, and 34.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 22.5% more expensive than Dongguan without rent, and 36.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12 Β₯21.34
$2.43 Β₯16.59
28.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.87 Β₯190
$20.91 Β₯143
33.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.15 Β₯35.17
$4.41 Β₯30.12
16.78%
Cappuccino
$3.17 Β₯21.67
$2.58 Β₯17.63
22.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 Β₯3.58
$0.45 Β₯3.05
15.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 Β₯2.06
$0.27 Β₯1.84
11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 Β₯8.70
$1.18 Β₯8.08
7.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 Β₯19.26
$2.25 Β₯15.35
25.33%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 Β₯12.47
$1.69 Β₯11.53
8.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 Β₯13.26
$1.42 Β₯9.67
36.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Β₯8.03
$0.98 Β₯6.69
20.41%
Eggs
$1.87 Β₯12.76
$1.73 Β₯11.85
8.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 Β₯87.5
$12.65 Β₯86.4
1.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Β₯26.35
$4.02 Β₯27.48
-3.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.49 Β₯92.2
$11.58 Β₯79.1
16.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 Β₯12.49
$1.79 Β₯12.24
2.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 Β₯9.68
$1.42 Β₯9.71
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 Β₯11.82
$1.75 Β₯11.94
-1.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 Β₯9.50
$1.37 Β₯9.34
1.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 Β₯7.25
$0.96 Β₯6.53
10.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 Β₯9.70
$1.40 Β₯9.56
1.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 Β₯4.71
$0.62 Β₯4.22
11.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 Β₯4.12
$0.59 Β₯4.01
1.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 Β₯23.07
$2.78 Β₯18.96
21.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.51 Β₯99.1
$14.53 Β₯99.2
-0.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 Β₯6.32
$0.93 Β₯6.35
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 Β₯12.67
$1.94 Β₯13.22
-4.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 Β₯3.01
$0.27 Β₯1.84
62.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 Β₯153
$20.96 Β₯143
7.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.64 Β₯11.20
$1.23 Β₯8.39
33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Β₯2.37
$0.34 Β₯2.35
2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.85 Β₯46.79
$5.73 Β₯39.12
19.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 Β₯7.74
$1.16 Β₯7.93
-2.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K Β₯155.3K
$21.2K Β₯145.1K
7.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K Β₯141.2K
$20.2K Β₯137.7K
2.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.5 Β₯461
$62.2 Β₯425
8.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.23 Β₯56.2
$8.23 Β₯56.2
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.77 Β₯87.3
$12.02 Β₯82.1
6.24%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.87 Β₯341
$61.6 Β₯421
-19.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.30 Β₯118
$13.42 Β₯91.6
28.91%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13 Β₯48.69
$7.04 Β₯48.07
1.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 Β₯3,099
$458 Β₯3,125
-0.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.3K Β₯138.5K
$20.4K Β₯139.0K
-0.33%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.09 Β₯328
$30.00 Β₯205
60.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.71 Β₯210
$23.98 Β₯164
28.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.9 Β₯525
$60.2 Β₯411
27.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Β₯537
$37.78 Β₯258
108.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 Β₯4,973
$350 Β₯2,392
107.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 Β₯2,747
$214 Β₯1,463
87.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 Β₯11.4K
$670 Β₯4,573
150.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$927 Β₯6,329
$405 Β₯2,763
129.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.3K Β₯90.7K
$6,538 Β₯44.7K
103.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,100 Β₯41.7K
$3,611 Β₯24.7K
68.95%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Dongguan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,640 Β₯11.2K
$776 Β₯5,301
111.34%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Dongguan: April 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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