Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Lianyungang Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Lianyungang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,036 in Shenzhen versus $680 in Lianyungang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,669 in Shenzhen versus $1,050 in Lianyungang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,301 in Shenzhen versus $1,421 in Lianyungang.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 52% more expensive than Lianyungang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 22% lower, Lianyungang 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.27 ¥22.10

$3.33 ¥22.48

-1.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.02 ¥189

$11.31 ¥76.4

147.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.93 ¥33.31

$4.41 ¥29.81

11.79%

Cappuccino

$3.20 ¥21.59

$1.69 ¥11.41

89.35%

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

$0.52 ¥3.54

$0.40 ¥2.72

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.05

$0.29 ¥1.96

3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.26

$0.73 ¥4.92

67.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ¥19.02

$2.10 ¥14.21

34.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ¥11.91

$1.90 ¥12.86

-7.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.32

$1.01 ¥6.85

95.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ¥8.05

$0.96 ¥6.45

23.96%

Eggs

$1.90 ¥12.83

$1.63 ¥11.02

16.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.82 ¥86.6

$15.03 ¥102

-14.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 ¥26.45

$4.10 ¥27.67

-4.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 ¥90.6

$9.30 ¥62.9

44.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.19

$1.13 ¥7.61

60.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.01

$0.59 ¥3.97

150.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.28

$0.80 ¥5.43

127.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 ¥9.17

$0.44 ¥2.94

209.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.37

$0.71 ¥4.81

53.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 ¥9.91

$0.44 ¥2.94

234.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ¥4.69

$0.29 ¥1.96

137.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.84

$0.43 ¥2.94

32.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 ¥23.65

$3.88 ¥26.23

-9.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.26 ¥89.6

$14.30 ¥96.6

-7.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ¥6.07

$1.04 ¥6.99

-13.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ¥12.98

$1.59 ¥10.73

20.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.91

$0.27 ¥1.82

59.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.77 ¥147

$16.98 ¥115

28.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 ¥11.37

$1.14 ¥7.71

47.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ¥2.32

$0.32 ¥2.16

6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.63 ¥44.82

$7.33 ¥49.49

-9.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥7.92

$1.12 ¥7.57

4.46%

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

$23.0K ¥155.3K

$19.8K ¥133.5K

16.33%

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

$20.5K ¥138.6K

$13.5K ¥91.5K

51.48%

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

$67.2 ¥454

$50.9 ¥344

32.16%

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

$8.47 ¥57.2

$10.77 ¥72.8

-21.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.80 ¥86.5

$8.24 ¥55.6

55.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.50 ¥334

$42.23 ¥285

17.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.44 ¥118

$13.84 ¥93.5

26.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.77 ¥45.75

$4.09 ¥27.66

65.53%

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

$454 ¥3,065

$276 ¥1,862

64.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.5K ¥138.5K

$17.0K ¥114.8K

20.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.82 ¥337

$22.24 ¥150

124.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.68 ¥207

$22.57 ¥152

35.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 ¥514

$58.6 ¥396

29.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.1 ¥534

$103 ¥693

-22.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$746 ¥5,041

$279 ¥1,883

167.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 ¥2,762

$186 ¥1,254

120.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,704 ¥11.5K

$602 ¥4,068

182.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$907 ¥6,126

$357 ¥2,415

153.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.0K ¥87.8K

$3,253 ¥22.0K

299.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,233 ¥42.1K

$1,733 ¥11.7K

259.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,644 ¥11.1K

$590 ¥3,985

178.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.81

6.04%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: June 14, 2026

Last update for Lianyungang: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $746 in Shenzhen and $279 in Lianyungang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 179% 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 $11.00 in Lianyungang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $194 per month, with Lianyungang 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 Lianyungang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lianyungang wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lianyungang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 179% 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: $746 in Shenzhen versus $279 in Lianyungang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

Childcare runs $454 in Shenzhen versus $276 in Lianyungang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $680 in Lianyungang versus $1,036 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lianyungang but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Lianyungang 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 Lianyungang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.