Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Gongzhuling Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Gongzhuling

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,032 per month in Shenzhen vs $584 in Gongzhuling, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,649 per month in Shenzhen vs $902 in Gongzhuling, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,266 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,220 in Gongzhuling, rent included.

Shenzhen costs about 77% more than Gongzhuling, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shenzhen and Gongzhuling are more affordable than the global median – Shenzhen 23% lower, Gongzhuling 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.13

$1.90 ¥12.82

64.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.60 ¥187

$15.21 ¥103

81.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 ¥32.92

$4.08 ¥27.59

19.36%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥22.43

$1.77 ¥11.96

87.57%

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

$0.48 ¥3.27

$0.43 ¥2.91

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.20 ¥1.35

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ¥8.21

$0.68 ¥4.61

77.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ¥18.73

$1.56 ¥10.53

77.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥11.81

$1.22 ¥8.21

43.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.31

$1.98 ¥13.41

-0.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.96

$0.98 ¥6.62

20.41%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.94

$1.10 ¥7.42

74.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 ¥85.8

$7.00 ¥47.29

81.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ¥26.56

$2.83 ¥19.13

38.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 ¥90.4

$8.17 ¥55.2

63.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ¥12.61

$0.54 ¥3.63

246.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.89

$0.66 ¥4.47

121.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.27

$0.47 ¥3.15

287.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 ¥9.42

$0.44 ¥2.96

215.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.39

$0.40 ¥2.72

172.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.59

$0.50 ¥3.39

184.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ¥5.04

$0.41 ¥2.76

82.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.84

$0.55 ¥3.71

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ¥22.91

$3.05 ¥20.58

11.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.61 ¥85.2

$10.25 ¥69.3

23.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.26

$0.71 ¥4.81

30.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ¥12.86

$0.97 ¥6.53

95.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.97

$0.29 ¥1.97

51.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.23 ¥150

$16.68 ¥113

33.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ¥11.39

$1.02 ¥6.89

65.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.53

$0.35 ¥2.37

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 ¥45.58

$2.44 ¥16.48

176.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥7.70

$1.18 ¥7.98

-3.39%

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

$22.7K ¥153.4K

$18.2K ¥123.0K

24.76%

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

$20.7K ¥139.7K

$15.1K ¥102.1K

36.89%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$26.54 ¥179

146.19%

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

$8.39 ¥56.7

$5.72 ¥38.63

46.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.08 ¥88.4

$9.85 ¥66.5

32.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ¥344

$41.16 ¥278

23.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.60 ¥119

$13.82 ¥93.4

27.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 ¥47.82

$4.90 ¥33.10

44.49%

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

$467 ¥3,154

$383 ¥2,591

21.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K ¥139.8K

$10.9K ¥73.3K

90.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.53 ¥328

$15.01 ¥101

223.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 ¥205

$21.12 ¥143

43.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ¥505

$70.2 ¥474

6.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 ¥536

$41.81 ¥283

89.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ¥4,945

$281 ¥1,899

160.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 ¥2,773

$184 ¥1,243

122.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,699 ¥11.5K

$592 ¥4,001

186.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 ¥6,148

$361 ¥2,437

152.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K ¥87.3K

$3,093 ¥20.9K

317.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,000 ¥40.5K

$1,803 ¥12.2K

232.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,720 ¥11.6K

$333 ¥2,252

415.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.5

15.43%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: July 14, 2026

Last update for Gongzhuling: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $732 in Shenzhen versus $281 in Gongzhuling. 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 416% 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 $28.00 in Shenzhen versus $15.00 in Gongzhuling. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $147 – making Gongzhuling 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 Gongzhuling: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shenzhen is pricier by about 77%, 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 $1,549 per month in Shenzhen and $876 in Gongzhuling. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $467 per month in Shenzhen and $383 in Gongzhuling. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 56% 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 Gongzhuling, where all-in costs run around $584, than in Shenzhen at $1,032. In Gongzhuling it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shenzhen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gongzhuling – 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 Gongzhuling. 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.