Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Liaocheng Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Liaocheng

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,139 per month in Shenzhen vs $647 in Liaocheng, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,731 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,025 in Liaocheng, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,322 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,403 in Liaocheng, rent included.

Shenzhen costs about 76% more than Liaocheng, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shenzhen and Liaocheng are more affordable than the global median – Shenzhen 17% lower, Liaocheng 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 ¥26.95

$2.66 ¥17.88

51.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.93 ¥201

$13.62 ¥91.4

119.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ¥35.42

$4.99 ¥33.48

5.81%

Cappuccino

$3.36 ¥22.52

$1.83 ¥12.27

83.61%

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

$0.54 ¥3.64

$0.40 ¥2.65

35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.39

$0.23 ¥1.55

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.78

$0.85 ¥5.67

71.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ¥15.11

$1.96 ¥13.17

14.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.93

$1.47 ¥9.90

10.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.02

$1.47 ¥9.85

21.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.89

$0.85 ¥5.67

38.82%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.34

$1.17 ¥7.86

44.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.03 ¥148

$11.64 ¥78.1

89.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ¥24.26

$2.92 ¥19.57

23.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 ¥95.0

$11.09 ¥74.4

27.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 ¥14.67

$1.47 ¥9.87

48.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ¥10.40

$1.07 ¥7.17

44.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ¥12.71

$1.76 ¥11.84

7.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$1.22 ¥8.19

21.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.95

$0.63 ¥4.23

87.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.30

$0.80 ¥5.37

91.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ¥3.63

$0.52 ¥3.52

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ¥3.90

$0.57 ¥3.82

1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 ¥30.44

$2.18 ¥14.63

108.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 ¥84.9

$10.24 ¥68.7

23.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ¥6.09

$0.67 ¥4.47

35.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥12.39

$1.34 ¥9.02

38.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 ¥4.13

$0.31 ¥2.11

96.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.16 ¥149

$15.38 ¥103

44.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ¥9.89

$1.22 ¥8.21

20.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 ¥2.69

$0.31 ¥2.08

29.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.25 ¥48.68

$4.34 ¥29.11

67.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥8.37

$1.13 ¥7.59

10.62%

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

$19.1K ¥127.9K

$19.3K ¥129.6K

-1.27%

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

$18.1K ¥121.7K

$15.0K ¥100.8K

20.68%

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

$61.6 ¥413

$43.74 ¥294

40.74%

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

$9.91 ¥66.5

$5.93 ¥39.78

67.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.09 ¥101

$5.06 ¥33.94

198.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.53 ¥332

$41.78 ¥280

18.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 ¥114

$15.19 ¥102

11.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.35 ¥49.34

$4.38 ¥29.42

67.81%

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

$525 ¥3,520

$214 ¥1,439

144.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥161.3K

$20.0K ¥134.0K

20.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.95 ¥335

$34.25 ¥230

45.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 ¥270

$29.19 ¥196

37.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ¥464

$71.9 ¥483

-3.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.2 ¥578

$59.7 ¥400

44.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ¥5,150

$319 ¥2,142

140.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥3,129

$180 ¥1,206

159.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 ¥12.2K

$596 ¥4,000

204.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$855 ¥5,739

$366 ¥2,456

133.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K ¥90.1K

$3,242 ¥21.8K

314.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,284 ¥42.2K

$1,278 ¥8,577

391.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,688 ¥11.3K

$586 ¥3,930

188.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

3.13

8.63%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: August 31, 2026

Last update for Liaocheng: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $768 in Shenzhen versus $319 in Liaocheng. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 188% higher in Shenzhen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Shenzhen versus $14.00 in Liaocheng. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $186 – making Liaocheng the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Liaocheng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shenzhen is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,709 per month in Shenzhen and $971 in Liaocheng. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Liaocheng, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 44% less in Liaocheng. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $525 per month in Shenzhen and $214 in Liaocheng. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Liaocheng, where all-in costs run around $647, than in Shenzhen at $1,139. In Liaocheng it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shenzhen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Liaocheng – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Liaocheng. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shenzhen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.