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: $1,140 in Shenzhen versus $652 in Korla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,759 in Shenzhen versus $1,030 in Korla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,378 in Shenzhen versus $1,409 in Korla.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 75% more expensive than in Korla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 17% lower, Korla 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 ¥27.11

$2.93 ¥19.65

38.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 ¥201

$16.49 ¥110

81.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 ¥34.27

$5.08 ¥34.01

0.79%

Cappuccino

$3.40 ¥22.78

$2.77 ¥18.58

22.74%

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

$0.54 ¥3.61

$0.43 ¥2.87

25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ¥2.35

$0.24 ¥1.59

45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ¥10.11

$0.90 ¥6.04

67.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ¥14.69

$1.52 ¥10.16

44.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ¥10.54

$1.22 ¥8.17

28.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 ¥12.39

$0.93 ¥6.23

98.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 ¥8.12

$0.62 ¥4.15

95.16%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.34

$1.52 ¥10.19

11.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.16 ¥148

$5.89 ¥39.47

276.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 ¥24.69

$2.48 ¥16.62

48.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.25 ¥95.4

$9.73 ¥65.2

46.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ¥15.49

$1.96 ¥13.10

17.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ¥10.71

$1.22 ¥8.16

31.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.19

$1.90 ¥12.70

-4.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.43

$0.71 ¥4.73

98.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.86

$0.54 ¥3.61

116.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 ¥10.31

$0.62 ¥4.14

148.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ¥3.91

$0.53 ¥3.56

9.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.62

$0.46 ¥3.05

17.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.39 ¥29.43

$2.94 ¥19.71

49.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 ¥84.7

$10.49 ¥70.2

20.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.21

$1.14 ¥7.60

-18.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ¥12.16

$1.47 ¥9.84

23.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 ¥4.18

$0.31 ¥2.09

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.17 ¥148

$17.50 ¥117

26.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ¥9.85

$1.31 ¥8.76

12.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.51

$0.21 ¥1.40

80.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.42 ¥49.69

$7.60 ¥50.9

-2.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ¥8.50

$1.16 ¥7.75

9.48%

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

$19.7K ¥131.8K

$18.2K ¥121.8K

8.21%

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

$18.2K ¥122.1K

$14.4K ¥96.1K

26.98%

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

$61.2 ¥410

$66.3 ¥444

-7.74%

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

$10.07 ¥67.5

$5.48 ¥36.69

83.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.90 ¥99.8

$11.12 ¥74.5

33.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.64 ¥332

$41.97 ¥281

18.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.20 ¥115

$14.75 ¥98.8

16.61%

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 ¥51.4

$5.28 ¥35.36

45.27%

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

$524 ¥3,507

$163 ¥1,093

220.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K ¥158.2K

$8,786 ¥58.8K

168.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.44 ¥331

$17.78 ¥119

178.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.23 ¥263

$22.64 ¥152

73.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 ¥459

$104 ¥697

-34.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 ¥597

$44.97 ¥301

98.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 ¥5,114

$292 ¥1,954

161.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 ¥3,168

$183 ¥1,223

158.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,851 ¥12.4K

$594 ¥3,978

211.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥5,777

$376 ¥2,521

129.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K ¥90.8K

$3,145 ¥21.1K

331.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,418 ¥43.0K

$1,902 ¥12.7K

237.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,688 ¥11.3K

$744 ¥4,980

126.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.37

3.39

-0.59%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: September 6, 2026

Last update for Korla: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $764 in Shenzhen and $292 in Korla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 127% 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: $30.00 in Shenzhen vs $16.00 in Korla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $158 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 75% 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.

Average pay runs 127% 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: $764 in Shenzhen versus $292 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 27% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $524 in Shenzhen versus $163 in Korla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $652 in Korla versus $1,140 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 75% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.