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: $999 in Shenzhen versus $663 in Jieyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,664 in Shenzhen versus $1,041 in Jieyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,329 in Shenzhen versus $1,419 in Jieyang.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 51% more expensive than in Jieyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 25% lower, Jieyang 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.25 ¥21.98

$1.96 ¥13.27

65.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.48 ¥186

$12.00 ¥81.2

129.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 ¥32.95

$3.50 ¥23.67

39.14%

Cappuccino

$3.26 ¥22.09

$2.81 ¥19.04

16.01%

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

$0.48 ¥3.22

$0.44 ¥2.96

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.87

$0.29 ¥1.95

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.25

$0.85 ¥5.76

43.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 ¥19.36

$1.66 ¥11.22

72.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ¥11.93

$1.42 ¥9.58

23.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 ¥13.20

$2.16 ¥14.62

-9.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.32

$0.82 ¥5.54

50.00%

Eggs

$1.85 ¥12.52

$0.82 ¥5.53

125.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 ¥86.5

$11.28 ¥76.3

13.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.00 ¥27.07

$2.37 ¥16.04

68.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.50 ¥91.3

$10.60 ¥71.7

27.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ¥12.09

$1.82 ¥12.34

-1.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.61

$0.64 ¥4.32

121.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.70

$0.94 ¥6.36

84.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ¥9.50

$1.85 ¥12.49

-24.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 ¥7.50

$0.92 ¥6.21

20.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 ¥9.48

$1.66 ¥11.21

-15.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ¥4.76

$0.40 ¥2.73

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ¥3.90

$0.55 ¥3.74

5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 ¥24.07

$2.76 ¥18.65

28.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 ¥84.3

$11.00 ¥74.4

13.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ¥6.09

$0.74 ¥5.03

21.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ¥12.38

$1.65 ¥11.14

10.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.73

$0.29 ¥1.98

37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.85 ¥148

$16.81 ¥114

29.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.71 ¥11.58

$0.88 ¥5.93

94.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.55

$0.15 ¥1.02

153.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.49

$6.87 ¥46.48

2.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.99

$0.93 ¥6.31

26.88%

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

$23.1K ¥156.2K

$12.0K ¥80.9K

93.13%

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

$20.7K ¥139.7K

$10.5K ¥71.3K

95.96%

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

$67.3 ¥456

$38.57 ¥261

74.57%

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

$8.26 ¥55.9

$9.91 ¥67.0

-16.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.86 ¥87.0

$11.54 ¥78.1

11.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.95 ¥338

$41.90 ¥283

19.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.27 ¥117

$13.70 ¥92.7

26.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.00 ¥47.39

$5.47 ¥37.02

27.97%

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

$460 ¥3,115

$450 ¥3,044

2.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.4K ¥138.2K

$16.6K ¥112.4K

22.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.14 ¥332

$19.19 ¥130

156.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.64 ¥207

$27.10 ¥183

13.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 ¥510

$56.3 ¥381

33.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 ¥533

$81.0 ¥548

-2.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 ¥5,011

$283 ¥1,912

162.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,781

$190 ¥1,288

115.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,708 ¥11.6K

$589 ¥3,987

189.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 ¥6,158

$357 ¥2,413

155.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.5K ¥84.7K

$3,109 ¥21.0K

302.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,184 ¥41.8K

$1,926 ¥13.0K

221.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,743 ¥11.8K

$1,081 ¥7,313

61.28%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Jieyang: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Shenzhen and $283 in Jieyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 61% 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: $27.00 in Shenzhen vs $12.00 in Jieyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $189 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 51% 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.

Average pay runs 61% higher in Shenzhen, 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: $741 in Shenzhen versus $283 in Jieyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $999 per month in Shenzhen versus $663 in Jieyang – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jieyang runs roughly 30% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $663 in Jieyang versus $999 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 51% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.