Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Jiamusi Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Jiamusi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,139 per month in Shenzhen vs $710 in Jiamusi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,731 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,135 in Jiamusi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,322 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,561 in Jiamusi, rent included.

Shenzhen costs about 60% more than Jiamusi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shenzhen and Jiamusi are more affordable than the global median – Shenzhen 17% lower, Jiamusi 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 ¥26.92

$2.73 ¥18.27

47.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.93 ¥201

$21.20 ¥142

41.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ¥35.38

$4.97 ¥33.32

6.24%

Cappuccino

$3.36 ¥22.49

$3.00 ¥20.11

12.00%

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

$0.54 ¥3.64

$0.43 ¥2.90

25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.39

$0.27 ¥1.78

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.77

$0.90 ¥6.00

62.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ¥15.09

$2.15 ¥14.39

4.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.92

$1.84 ¥12.36

-11.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.00

$1.59 ¥10.69

12.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.88

$0.89 ¥5.95

32.58%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.32

$1.53 ¥10.26

10.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.03 ¥148

$12.82 ¥85.9

71.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ¥24.23

$3.11 ¥20.82

16.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 ¥94.9

$10.13 ¥67.9

39.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 ¥14.65

$1.80 ¥12.06

21.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ¥10.39

$1.24 ¥8.32

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ¥12.69

$1.47 ¥9.84

28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.89

$1.14 ¥7.66

29.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.94

$0.70 ¥4.68

68.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.28

$0.90 ¥6.04

70.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ¥3.63

$0.57 ¥3.81

-5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ¥3.89

$0.51 ¥3.41

13.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 ¥30.40

$3.04 ¥20.40

49.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 ¥84.8

$10.46 ¥70.1

20.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ¥6.08

$0.74 ¥4.94

22.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥12.38

$1.64 ¥10.98

12.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 ¥4.12

$0.27 ¥1.81

125.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.16 ¥148

$16.99 ¥114

30.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ¥9.88

$1.43 ¥9.58

2.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 ¥2.68

$0.33 ¥2.20

21.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.25 ¥48.62

$6.51 ¥43.63

11.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥8.36

$1.16 ¥7.81

7.76%

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

$19.1K ¥127.8K

$19.2K ¥128.7K

-0.69%

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

$18.1K ¥121.5K

$16.9K ¥113.2K

7.34%

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

$61.6 ¥413

$45.44 ¥305

35.48%

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

$9.91 ¥66.4

$9.75 ¥65.3

1.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.09 ¥101

$11.65 ¥78.1

29.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.53 ¥332

$41.80 ¥280

18.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 ¥114

$13.96 ¥93.6

21.70%

Cinema Ticket

$7.35 ¥49.27

$5.83 ¥39.08

26.07%

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

$525 ¥3,516

$330 ¥2,209

59.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥161.1K

$16.5K ¥110.7K

45.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.95 ¥335

$43.19 ¥289

15.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 ¥270

$30.92 ¥207

30.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ¥464

$71.9 ¥482

-3.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.2 ¥578

$71.4 ¥478

20.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ¥5,144

$283 ¥1,899

170.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥3,125

$189 ¥1,266

146.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 ¥12.2K

$586 ¥3,928

210.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$855 ¥5,732

$360 ¥2,410

137.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K ¥90.0K

$3,012 ¥20.2K

345.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,284 ¥42.1K

$2,005 ¥13.4K

213.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,688 ¥11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

3.89

-12.60%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: August 31, 2026

Last update for Jiamusi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $768 in Shenzhen versus $283 in Jiamusi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Shenzhen versus $21.00 in Jiamusi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $197 – making Jiamusi 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 Jiamusi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shenzhen is pricier by about 60%, 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 $1,709 per month in Shenzhen and $1,065 in Jiamusi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $525 per month in Shenzhen and $330 in Jiamusi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 Jiamusi, where all-in costs run around $710, than in Shenzhen at $1,139. In Jiamusi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shenzhen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jiamusi – 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 Jiamusi. 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.