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: $1,017 in Shenzhen versus $687 in Lianyungang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,653 in Shenzhen versus $1,048 in Lianyungang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,289 in Shenzhen versus $1,409 in Lianyungang.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 48% more expensive than in Lianyungang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 24% lower, Lianyungang 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.24 ¥21.85

$3.40 ¥22.95

-4.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.75 ¥187

$11.34 ¥76.6

144.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 ¥34.73

$4.44 ¥29.96

15.99%

Cappuccino

$3.21 ¥21.68

$1.70 ¥11.49

88.82%

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

$0.49 ¥3.28

$0.43 ¥2.92

13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.03

$0.31 ¥2.11

-3.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 ¥8.66

$0.73 ¥4.93

75.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ¥19.05

$2.05 ¥13.86

37.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ¥12.11

$1.88 ¥12.71

-4.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 ¥13.54

$1.01 ¥6.83

99.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.97

$0.89 ¥6.02

32.58%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.94

$1.68 ¥11.35

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.60 ¥85.1

$14.85 ¥100

-15.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ¥25.93

$4.06 ¥27.41

-5.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥90.9

$8.85 ¥59.7

52.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ¥12.11

$1.14 ¥7.71

57.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.88

$0.58 ¥3.92

151.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.79

$0.86 ¥5.78

103.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ¥9.47

$0.44 ¥2.96

218.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.13

$0.73 ¥4.93

45.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.59

$0.43 ¥2.93

230.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ¥4.98

$0.27 ¥1.81

174.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.80

$0.41 ¥2.74

36.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 ¥24.11

$3.88 ¥26.21

-7.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 ¥82.6

$14.42 ¥97.3

-15.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥5.85

$1.05 ¥7.06

-17.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ¥12.81

$1.55 ¥10.46

22.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.71

$0.27 ¥1.80

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.39 ¥151

$16.67 ¥113

34.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 ¥11.05

$1.10 ¥7.39

49.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.55

$0.31 ¥2.12

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 ¥47.11

$7.45 ¥50.3

-6.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥7.93

$1.14 ¥7.71

2.63%

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

$23.0K ¥155.5K

$19.7K ¥133.3K

16.66%

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

$20.6K ¥139.2K

$13.2K ¥88.9K

56.64%

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

$65.5 ¥442

$50.9 ¥344

28.52%

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

$8.42 ¥56.8

$10.85 ¥73.2

-22.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.94 ¥87.3

$8.27 ¥55.8

56.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 ¥338

$41.55 ¥280

20.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.73 ¥120

$13.81 ¥93.3

28.39%

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 ¥46.24

$4.08 ¥27.53

67.89%

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

$452 ¥3,053

$280 ¥1,888

61.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K ¥139.1K

$17.2K ¥116.1K

19.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.37 ¥333

$22.24 ¥150

121.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 ¥207

$22.60 ¥153

35.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ¥519

$58.7 ¥396

30.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 ¥537

$102 ¥688

-21.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 ¥4,916

$276 ¥1,861

164.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 ¥2,792

$187 ¥1,263

121.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,661 ¥11.2K

$601 ¥4,058

176.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$900 ¥6,075

$362 ¥2,442

148.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.3K ¥83.3K

$3,355 ¥22.6K

267.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,024 ¥40.7K

$1,727 ¥11.7K

248.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,740 ¥11.7K

$582 ¥3,930

198.89%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Lianyungang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $728 in Shenzhen and $276 in Lianyungang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 199% 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 $228 vs $192 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 48% 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.

Average pay runs 199% 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: $728 in Shenzhen versus $276 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 34% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $452 in Shenzhen versus $280 in Lianyungang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $687 in Lianyungang versus $1,017 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 48% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.