Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Hefei Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Hefei

🙂 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 4.6% cheaper than Hefei without rent, and 33.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 10.6% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 45.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17 ¥22.75
$3.47 ¥24.89
-8.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.46 ¥197
$16.8 ¥121
63.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ¥35.32
$4.26 ¥30.56
15.49%
Cappuccino
$3.19 ¥22.91
$2.25 ¥16.14
41.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.69
$0.43 ¥3.08
18.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.98
$0.23 ¥1.64
21.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ¥8.7
$0.8 ¥5.74
51.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ¥19.42
$2.04 ¥14.62
32.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥12.87
$1.61 ¥11.55
11.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ¥14.69
$1.59 ¥11.4
28.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.75
$1.19 ¥8.52
2.52%
Eggs
$1.87 ¥13.4
$1.85 ¥13.3
1.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 ¥91.4
$8.13 ¥58.3
56.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 ¥27.55
$4.25 ¥30.49
-9.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 ¥96.6
$10.27 ¥73.6
31.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.06
$1.83 ¥13.1
-0.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ¥10.56
$0.89 ¥6.38
65.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.03
$1.28 ¥9.15
42.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.4 ¥10.01
$0.84 ¥6.05
66.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.85
$0.64 ¥4.59
70.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.43
$0.48 ¥3.45
202.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ¥5.33
$0.52 ¥3.74
42.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.35
$0.55 ¥3.92
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.4 ¥24.37
$2.75 ¥19.74
23.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.61 ¥90.5
$6.88 ¥49.37
83.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.9 ¥6.43
$0.71 ¥5.09
26.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 ¥13.66
$1.66 ¥11.89
14.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥3.09
$0.36 ¥2.61
19.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 ¥160
$42.22 ¥303
-47.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ¥12.3
$1.35 ¥9.71
26.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.5
$0.26 ¥1.85
34.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 ¥48.33
$2.56 ¥18.34
163.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.04
$1.17 ¥8.38
-4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ¥165.8K
$19.3K ¥138.5K
19.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ¥145.2K
$19.2K ¥137.7K
5.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.1 ¥482
$41.36 ¥297
62.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.16 ¥58.6
$12.99 ¥93.2
-37.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.86 ¥92.2
$14.02 ¥101
-8.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 ¥361
$82.6 ¥593
-39.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.3 ¥124
$12.14 ¥87.1
42.50%
Cinema Ticket
$7.1 ¥50.9
$5.88 ¥42.17
20.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 ¥3,267
$260 ¥1,863
75.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K ¥147.8K
$8,963 ¥64.3K
129.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.43 ¥355
$59.2 ¥424
-16.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29 ¥217
$30.37 ¥218
-0.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ¥537
$60.6 ¥434
23.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8 ¥558
$73.3 ¥526
6.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 ¥5,220
$229 ¥1,642
217.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ¥2,915
$176 ¥1,263
130.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$493 ¥3,536
245.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$907 ¥6,505
$364 ¥2,610
149.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.4K ¥88.6K
$3,659 ¥26.2K
237.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,786 ¥41.5K
$2,202 ¥15.8K
162.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$917 ¥6,575
85.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
4.37
-7.55%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Hefei: October 29, 2025

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