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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,037 per month in Shenzhen vs $565 in Gongzhuling, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Shenzhen vs $908 in Gongzhuling, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,280 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,251 in Gongzhuling, rent included.

Shenzhen costs about 83% more than Gongzhuling, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shenzhen and Gongzhuling are more affordable than the global median – Shenzhen 23% lower, Gongzhuling 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.19

$1.91 ¥12.95

63.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$15.61 ¥106

76.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.28

$4.13 ¥28.00

22.52%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.53

$1.77 ¥11.98

88.14%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.41 ¥2.75

17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.20 ¥1.35

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.29

$0.71 ¥4.83

71.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.15

$1.50 ¥10.19

88.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.73

$1.23 ¥8.36

40.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.36

$1.98 ¥13.44

-0.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.35

$0.99 ¥6.68

24.24%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.11

$1.09 ¥7.40

77.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.4

$7.12 ¥48.26

79.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.45

$2.92 ¥19.80

38.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.2

$8.18 ¥55.4

64.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$0.54 ¥3.66

248.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.54

$0.66 ¥4.47

113.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.33

$0.47 ¥3.16

287.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.09

$0.44 ¥2.98

204.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.10

$0.41 ¥2.77

156.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.92

$0.48 ¥3.24

204.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.43 ¥2.92

65.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.58 ¥3.90

-1.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.90

$3.17 ¥21.44

6.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.5

$10.87 ¥73.6

18.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.39

$0.72 ¥4.88

30.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.66

$0.96 ¥6.53

94.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.29 ¥1.99

37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$16.86 ¥114

29.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.03

$1.06 ¥7.18

53.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.35 ¥2.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.52

$2.45 ¥16.58

186.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.99

$1.20 ¥8.11

-1.67%

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

$22.9K ¥155.0K

$17.9K ¥121.6K

27.52%

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

$20.7K ¥140.4K

$15.6K ¥105.5K

33.11%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$26.52 ¥180

146.34%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$5.63 ¥38.11

45.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.4

$9.64 ¥65.3

35.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$41.40 ¥280

21.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$13.68 ¥92.7

27.12%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.49

$4.95 ¥33.51

38.59%

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

$457 ¥3,094

$374 ¥2,532

22.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.2K

$11.0K ¥74.4K

89.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥334

$15.32 ¥104

221.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥208

$20.91 ¥142

46.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥503

$71.0 ¥481

4.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥543

$40.90 ¥277

95.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,990

$277 ¥1,879

165.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,785

$188 ¥1,276

118.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.5K

$594 ¥4,024

184.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,116

$361 ¥2,448

149.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.0K

$3,171 ¥21.5K

314.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$1,796 ¥12.2K

246.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$332 ¥2,246

402.29%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gongzhuling: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Shenzhen versus $277 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 402% 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 $16.00 in Gongzhuling. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $150 – 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 83%, 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 $1,556 per month in Shenzhen and $848 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 $457 per month in Shenzhen and $374 in Gongzhuling. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 54% 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 $565, than in Shenzhen at $1,037. 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.