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

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 5.1% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 38.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 12.6% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 38.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12 ¥21.34
$3.38 ¥23.09
-7.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.87 ¥190
$16.98 ¥116
64.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.15 ¥35.17
$4.24 ¥28.95
21.46%
Cappuccino
$3.17 ¥21.67
$2.38 ¥16.22
33.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.58
$0.43 ¥2.93
20.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.06
$0.23 ¥1.56
30.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 ¥8.70
$0.85 ¥5.84
49.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ¥19.26
$2.05 ¥14.02
37.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ¥12.47
$1.68 ¥11.46
8.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.94 ¥13.26
$1.60 ¥10.91
21.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ¥8.03
$1.16 ¥7.90
1.72%
Eggs
$1.87 ¥12.76
$1.86 ¥12.68
0.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 ¥87.5
$8.11 ¥55.4
57.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 ¥26.35
$4.25 ¥29.06
-9.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.49 ¥92.2
$10.00 ¥68.3
34.90%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 ¥12.49
$1.81 ¥12.35
1.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 ¥9.68
$0.90 ¥6.12
57.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.82
$1.22 ¥8.33
41.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 ¥9.50
$0.90 ¥6.13
54.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.25
$0.64 ¥4.39
65.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ¥9.70
$0.46 ¥3.11
208.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 ¥4.71
$0.53 ¥3.60
30.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ¥4.12
$0.55 ¥3.74
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ¥23.07
$2.73 ¥18.63
23.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.51 ¥99.1
$9.48 ¥64.7
53.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ¥6.32
$0.69 ¥4.68
34.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ¥12.67
$1.71 ¥11.70
8.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.01
$0.33 ¥2.27
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ¥153
$42.53 ¥290
-47.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.64 ¥11.20
$1.29 ¥8.81
27.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.37
$0.26 ¥1.76
34.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.85 ¥46.79
$2.44 ¥16.64
180.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥7.74
$1.15 ¥7.89
-1.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K ¥155.3K
$19.2K ¥131.1K
18.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K ¥141.2K
$19.4K ¥132.3K
6.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.5 ¥461
$41.99 ¥287
60.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.23 ¥56.2
$12.79 ¥87.3
-35.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.77 ¥87.3
$13.75 ¥93.9
-7.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.87 ¥341
$82.2 ¥561
-39.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.30 ¥118
$12.37 ¥84.5
39.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13 ¥48.69
$5.85 ¥39.94
21.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 ¥3,099
$252 ¥1,724
79.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.3K ¥138.5K
$8,977 ¥61.3K
125.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.09 ¥328
$58.1 ¥396
-17.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.71 ¥210
$30.47 ¥208
0.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.9 ¥525
$61.7 ¥421
24.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 ¥537
$73.9 ¥505
6.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 ¥4,973
$228 ¥1,559
218.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 ¥2,747
$180 ¥1,229
123.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 ¥11.4K
$491 ¥3,350
241.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$927 ¥6,329
$366 ¥2,502
152.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.3K ¥90.7K
$3,714 ¥25.4K
257.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,100 ¥41.7K
$1,998 ¥13.6K
205.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Hefei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,640 ¥11.2K
$969 ¥6,617
69.31%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Hefei: 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.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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