Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Kaifeng Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Kaifeng

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Shenzhen versus $696 in Kaifeng.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,640 in Shenzhen versus $1,104 in Kaifeng.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,281 in Shenzhen versus $1,512 in Kaifeng.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 44% more expensive than Kaifeng, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 26% lower, Kaifeng 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.29 ¥22.23

$2.71 ¥18.34

21.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.75 ¥188

$13.87 ¥93.8

100.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 ¥34.33

$4.35 ¥29.40

16.78%

Cappuccino

$3.28 ¥22.19

$2.09 ¥14.16

56.94%

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

$0.48 ¥3.23

$0.44 ¥2.97

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.22 ¥1.49

27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 ¥8.53

$1.09 ¥7.38

15.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ¥18.71

$2.05 ¥13.88

35.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ¥11.89

$1.84 ¥12.43

-4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 ¥13.80

$1.59 ¥10.72

28.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.32

$0.84 ¥5.65

46.43%

Eggs

$1.91 ¥12.91

$1.55 ¥10.51

23.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 ¥87.2

$13.00 ¥87.9

-0.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.02 ¥27.16

$3.23 ¥21.85

24.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 ¥93.4

$10.32 ¥69.8

33.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$1.80 ¥12.19

4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ¥9.96

$1.26 ¥8.54

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.69

$0.60 ¥4.07

188.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.55

$1.09 ¥7.35

29.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.43

$0.72 ¥4.87

52.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 ¥9.96

$0.97 ¥6.55

51.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ¥5.09

$0.61 ¥4.10

22.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.10

$0.54 ¥3.65

12.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.53 ¥23.84

$3.18 ¥21.52

11.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.14 ¥88.9

$14.89 ¥101

-11.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.26

$0.75 ¥5.05

24.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ¥12.86

$1.66 ¥11.25

14.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.70

$0.27 ¥1.81

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.52 ¥152

$16.86 ¥114

33.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ¥11.45

$1.37 ¥9.26

23.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.51

$0.35 ¥2.39

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 ¥46.35

$6.56 ¥44.35

4.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥7.61

$1.12 ¥7.57

0.89%

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

$22.8K ¥154.3K

$19.7K ¥133.2K

15.91%

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

$20.1K ¥135.6K

$16.7K ¥113.0K

19.97%

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

$67.3 ¥455

$45.40 ¥307

48.17%

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

$8.52 ¥57.6

$9.67 ¥65.4

-11.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.10 ¥88.6

$11.33 ¥76.6

15.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.62 ¥336

$42.07 ¥284

17.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.24 ¥117

$14.13 ¥95.6

22.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 ¥46.35

$6.33 ¥42.79

8.21%

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

$466 ¥3,149

$334 ¥2,259

39.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K ¥139.5K

$16.9K ¥114.5K

21.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.14 ¥332

$42.69 ¥289

15.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ¥202

$30.60 ¥207

-2.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ¥516

$70.3 ¥475

8.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.0 ¥541

$74.9 ¥507

6.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ¥4,988

$278 ¥1,877

165.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 ¥2,741

$186 ¥1,260

117.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,655 ¥11.2K

$589 ¥3,981

181.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ¥6,220

$358 ¥2,422

156.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K ¥87.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,050 ¥40.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 ¥11.2K

$574 ¥3,879

189.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.87

4.39%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: June 9, 2026

Last update for Kaifeng: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Shenzhen and $278 in Kaifeng. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 189% 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 $14.00 in Kaifeng for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $204 per month, with Kaifeng 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 Kaifeng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kaifeng wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kaifeng the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 189% 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: $738 in Shenzhen versus $278 in Kaifeng. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kaifeng – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $28.00 in Shenzhen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,000 per month in Shenzhen versus $696 in Kaifeng – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $696 in Kaifeng versus $1,000 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kaifeng but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Kaifeng 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 Kaifeng gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.