Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Jiangmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Jiangmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $658 in Jiangmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $961 in Jiangmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,263 in Jiangmen.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 58% more expensive than Jiangmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Jiangmen 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.17

$3.20 ¥21.66

-2.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$16.87 ¥114

63.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.24

$5.11 ¥34.58

-0.98%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.51

$2.71 ¥18.32

22.88%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.50 ¥3.40

-4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.30 ¥2.05

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.28

$1.28 ¥8.68

-4.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.13

$2.77 ¥18.76

2.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.71

$1.82 ¥12.34

-4.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.35

$1.57 ¥10.59

25.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.34

$0.94 ¥6.39

30.85%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.09

$1.64 ¥11.13

18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.3

$6.82 ¥46.14

87.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.42

$3.20 ¥21.66

26.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.1

$9.57 ¥64.8

40.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.69

$1.88 ¥12.73

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.53

$1.29 ¥8.70

9.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.32

$1.03 ¥6.95

76.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.08

$1.22 ¥8.27

9.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.09

$0.58 ¥3.92

81.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.91

$0.78 ¥5.30

87.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.40 ¥2.68

77.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.82

$0.55 ¥3.72

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.87

$3.44 ¥23.30

-1.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.4

$12.75 ¥86.3

1.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.38

$0.65 ¥4.42

44.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.65

$1.70 ¥11.53

10.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.43 ¥2.93

-6.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$17.01 ¥115

27.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.02

$1.42 ¥9.59

14.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.34 ¥2.33

2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.47

$6.75 ¥45.67

4.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.98

$1.17 ¥7.94

0.85%

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

$22.9K ¥154.8K

$22.6K ¥152.8K

1.33%

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

$20.7K ¥140.2K

$20.2K ¥136.5K

2.77%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$37.87 ¥256

72.51%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$7.77 ¥52.6

5.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.3

$11.57 ¥78.3

12.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$28.15 ¥190

78.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$4.22 ¥28.56

312.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.44

$6.40 ¥43.29

7.19%

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

$457 ¥3,090

$225 ¥1,522

102.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.0K

$9,624 ¥65.1K

116.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥333

$20.74 ¥140

137.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥207

$30.66 ¥207

0.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥502

$74.7 ¥506

-0.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥542

$37.72 ¥255

112.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,984

$283 ¥1,915

160.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,782

$186 ¥1,256

121.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.4K

$414 ¥2,801

308.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,109

$247 ¥1,673

265.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.9K

$6,005 ¥40.6K

118.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$1,236 ¥8,362

403.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$587 ¥3,973

183.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jiangmen: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $283 in Jiangmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 184% 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: $28.00 in Shenzhen vs $17.00 in Jiangmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $180 per month, with Jiangmen 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 Jiangmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shenzhen and Jiangmen differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,037 vs $658 including rent). Jiangmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Shenzhen pays 184% more on average, 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: $737 in Shenzhen versus $283 in Jiangmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,037 per month in Shenzhen versus $658 in Jiangmen – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jiangmen runs roughly 28% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $658 in Jiangmen versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jiangmen but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Jiangmen 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 Jiangmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.