Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Jieyang Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Jieyang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $651 in Jieyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,013 in Jieyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,374 in Jieyang.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 59% more expensive than Jieyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.17

$1.98 ¥13.40

58.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$11.76 ¥79.6

133.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.24

$3.44 ¥23.30

47.09%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.51

$2.73 ¥18.46

21.98%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.44 ¥2.98

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.29 ¥1.93

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.28

$0.85 ¥5.76

43.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.13

$1.65 ¥11.14

71.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.71

$1.41 ¥9.53

22.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.35

$2.16 ¥14.60

-8.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.34

$0.82 ¥5.53

50.00%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.09

$0.81 ¥5.45

139.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.3

$11.33 ¥76.6

12.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.42

$2.30 ¥15.54

76.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.1

$10.90 ¥73.7

23.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.69

$1.88 ¥12.74

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.53

$0.64 ¥4.33

120.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.32

$0.94 ¥6.34

93.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.08

$1.93 ¥13.04

-30.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.09

$0.92 ¥6.20

14.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.91

$1.71 ¥11.55

-14.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.44 ¥2.98

61.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.82

$0.51 ¥3.44

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.87

$2.76 ¥18.70

22.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.4

$11.03 ¥74.6

17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.38

$0.78 ¥5.31

20.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.65

$1.64 ¥11.11

14.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.29 ¥1.98

37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$17.00 ¥115

28.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.02

$0.86 ¥5.80

89.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.14 ¥0.94

150.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.47

$6.60 ¥44.65

6.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.98

$0.93 ¥6.32

26.88%

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

$22.9K ¥154.8K

$12.0K ¥81.1K

90.89%

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

$20.7K ¥140.2K

$10.5K ¥71.0K

97.65%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$39.67 ¥268

64.68%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$9.76 ¥66.0

-15.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.3

$11.38 ¥77.0

14.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$41.94 ¥284

19.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$13.83 ¥93.6

25.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.44

$5.41 ¥36.63

26.80%

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

$457 ¥3,090

$455 ¥3,081

0.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.0K

$17.3K ¥116.8K

20.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥333

$19.54 ¥132

152.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥207

$27.30 ¥185

12.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥502

$55.1 ¥373

34.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥542

$81.6 ¥552

-1.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,984

$277 ¥1,876

165.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,782

$185 ¥1,253

121.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.4K

$582 ¥3,938

190.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,109

$360 ¥2,434

150.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.9K

$3,150 ¥21.3K

317.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$1,772 ¥12.0K

251.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$1,058 ¥7,159

57.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.56

13.48%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jieyang: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $277 in Jieyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 57% 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 $12.00 in Jieyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $190 per month, with Jieyang 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 Jieyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jieyang wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jieyang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 57% 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 $277 in Jieyang. 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 $651 in Jieyang – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $651 in Jieyang versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jieyang but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Jieyang 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 Jieyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.