Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Haikou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Haikou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,108 in Shenzhen versus $824 in Haikou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Shenzhen versus $1,172 in Haikou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,397 in Shenzhen versus $1,520 in Haikou.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 34% more expensive than in Haikou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 19% lower, Haikou 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.68 ¥24.65

$4.49 ¥30.05

-18.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 ¥201

$15.14 ¥101

97.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ¥34.35

$5.82 ¥38.95

-11.86%

Cappuccino

$3.26 ¥21.81

$2.41 ¥16.17

35.27%

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

$0.58 ¥3.86

$0.86 ¥5.74

-32.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ¥2.37

$0.34 ¥2.27

2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ¥9.72

$1.46 ¥9.79

-0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ¥15.23

$2.64 ¥17.71

-14.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.91

$2.07 ¥13.83

-21.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 ¥12.47

$1.48 ¥9.88

25.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ¥8.16

$0.68 ¥4.56

79.41%

Eggs

$1.72 ¥11.55

$1.35 ¥9.04

27.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.88 ¥147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ¥24.12

$3.78 ¥25.34

-4.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 ¥96.0

$15.36 ¥103

-6.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ¥15.06

$1.70 ¥11.38

32.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ¥10.63

$0.88 ¥5.87

80.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.61

$1.13 ¥7.60

66.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$0.88 ¥5.86

68.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.23

$0.86 ¥5.79

43.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$0.76 ¥5.06

94.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ¥3.88

$0.43 ¥2.87

34.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.62

$0.56 ¥3.76

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.40 ¥29.50

$3.20 ¥21.44

37.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.74 ¥85.3

$8.99 ¥60.2

41.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ¥6.59

$0.57 ¥3.83

71.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥12.15

$1.18 ¥7.90

53.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 ¥4.19

$0.87 ¥5.85

-27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.30 ¥149

$53.8 ¥361

-58.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ¥9.79

$2.20 ¥14.74

-33.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.51

$0.43 ¥2.91

-13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.09 ¥47.50

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥8.77

$1.21 ¥8.08

8.26%

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

$19.4K ¥129.7K

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

$18.4K ¥123.2K

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

$62.1 ¥416

$36.32 ¥243

71.04%

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

$10.07 ¥67.5

$13.55 ¥90.7

-25.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 ¥99.9

$13.65 ¥91.5

9.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ¥326

$45.71 ¥306

6.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.94 ¥113

$6.37 ¥42.65

165.93%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ¥50.1

$4.51 ¥30.18

65.85%

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

$535 ¥3,581

$868 ¥5,811

-38.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥160.9K

$19.3K ¥129.3K

24.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.75 ¥333

$26.56 ¥178

87.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 ¥264

$35.29 ¥236

11.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 ¥467

$45.58 ¥305

53.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.5 ¥586

$38.53 ¥258

127.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ¥5,037

$366 ¥2,449

105.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ¥3,117

$295 ¥1,977

57.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 ¥12.2K

$572 ¥3,830

218.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 ¥5,774

$365 ¥2,447

135.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.0K

$3,219 ¥21.6K

308.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,442 ¥43.2K

$2,144 ¥14.4K

200.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,732 ¥11.6K

$705 ¥4,721

145.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

3.85

-11.69%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: September 13, 2026

Last update for Haikou: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Shenzhen and $366 in Haikou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 146% 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: $30.00 in Shenzhen vs $15.00 in Haikou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $167 per month, with Haikou 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 Haikou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shenzhen and Haikou differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,108 vs $824 including rent). Haikou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 146% higher in Shenzhen, 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: $752 in Shenzhen versus $366 in Haikou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,108 per month in Shenzhen versus $824 in Haikou – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Haikou runs roughly 141% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $824 in Haikou versus $1,108 in Shenzhen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Haikou but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Haikou 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 Haikou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.