Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Korla Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Korla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Shenzhen versus $723 in Korla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,640 in Shenzhen versus $1,121 in Korla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,281 in Shenzhen versus $1,520 in Korla.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 38% more expensive than Korla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 26% lower, Korla 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.29 ¥22.23

$2.83 ¥19.15

16.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.75 ¥188

$20.50 ¥139

35.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 ¥34.33

$4.78 ¥32.33

6.28%

Cappuccino

$3.28 ¥22.19

$3.08 ¥20.82

6.49%

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

$0.48 ¥3.23

$0.46 ¥3.14

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.27 ¥1.82

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 ¥8.53

$0.92 ¥6.22

36.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ¥18.71

$2.06 ¥13.93

34.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ¥11.89

$1.79 ¥12.10

-1.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 ¥13.80

$1.53 ¥10.35

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.32

$0.91 ¥6.13

35.16%

Eggs

$1.91 ¥12.91

$1.58 ¥10.65

20.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.89 ¥87.2

$12.60 ¥85.2

2.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.02 ¥27.16

$3.21 ¥21.70

25.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 ¥93.4

$10.25 ¥69.3

34.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$1.80 ¥12.18

4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ¥9.96

$1.26 ¥8.55

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.69

$1.35 ¥9.13

28.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.55

$1.10 ¥7.44

28.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.43

$0.73 ¥4.91

50.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 ¥9.96

$0.97 ¥6.56

51.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ¥5.09

$0.56 ¥3.82

33.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.10

$0.51 ¥3.42

19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.53 ¥23.84

$3.12 ¥21.09

13.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.14 ¥88.9

$10.32 ¥69.8

27.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.26

$0.80 ¥5.39

16.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ¥12.86

$1.65 ¥11.14

15.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.70

$0.27 ¥1.81

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.52 ¥152

$16.44 ¥111

36.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ¥11.45

$1.38 ¥9.31

22.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.51

$0.32 ¥2.19

15.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 ¥46.35

$6.64 ¥44.91

3.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥7.61

$1.17 ¥7.90

-3.42%

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

$22.8K ¥154.3K

$19.0K ¥128.4K

20.17%

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

$20.1K ¥135.6K

$16.7K ¥112.7K

20.30%

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

$67.3 ¥455

$45.96 ¥311

46.37%

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

$8.52 ¥57.6

$9.71 ¥65.7

-12.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.10 ¥88.6

$11.34 ¥76.7

15.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.62 ¥336

$42.21 ¥285

17.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.24 ¥117

$14.14 ¥95.6

21.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 ¥46.35

$6.34 ¥42.90

8.04%

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

$466 ¥3,149

$336 ¥2,274

38.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K ¥139.5K

$16.7K ¥112.7K

23.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.14 ¥332

$43.41 ¥294

13.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.85 ¥202

$30.15 ¥204

-1.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 ¥516

$70.7 ¥478

8.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.0 ¥541

$74.4 ¥503

7.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ¥4,988

$275 ¥1,857

168.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 ¥2,741

$185 ¥1,254

118.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,655 ¥11.2K

$603 ¥4,075

174.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$920 ¥6,220

$356 ¥2,408

158.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K ¥87.4K

$3,117 ¥21.1K

314.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,050 ¥40.9K

$1,788 ¥12.1K

238.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 ¥11.2K

$735 ¥4,968

125.97%

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 Korla: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Shenzhen and $275 in Korla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 126% 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 $20.00 in Korla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $196 per month, with Korla 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 Korla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Korla wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Korla the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 126% 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 $275 in Korla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Korla runs roughly 37% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $466 in Shenzhen versus $336 in Korla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $723 in Korla versus $1,000 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Korla but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Korla 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 Korla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.