Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Linyi Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Linyi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Shenzhen versus $614 in Linyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,653 in Shenzhen versus $1,026 in Linyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,289 in Shenzhen versus $1,438 in Linyi.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 66% more expensive than in Linyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 24% lower, Linyi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.24 ¥21.86

$3.86 ¥26.04

-16.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.75 ¥187

$30.08 ¥203

-7.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 ¥34.75

$6.15 ¥41.57

-16.26%

Cappuccino

$3.21 ¥21.70

$3.25 ¥21.97

-1.23%

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

$0.49 ¥3.28

$0.60 ¥4.05

-18.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.03

$0.25 ¥1.67

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 ¥8.67

$1.13 ¥7.65

13.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ¥19.06

$2.14 ¥14.45

31.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ¥12.12

$1.70 ¥11.49

5.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.01 ¥13.54

$1.62 ¥10.92

24.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.98

$0.41 ¥2.78

187.80%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.95

$1.28 ¥8.66

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.60 ¥85.1

$13.02 ¥87.9

-3.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ¥25.94

$3.24 ¥21.89

18.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.0

$11.54 ¥77.9

16.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ¥12.11

$1.03 ¥6.94

73.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.89

$1.00 ¥6.74

46.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.80

$0.87 ¥5.85

101.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ¥9.47

$1.13 ¥7.64

23.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.14

$0.71 ¥4.82

49.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.60

$0.39 ¥2.66

264.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ¥4.98

$0.59 ¥4.01

25.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.80

$0.62 ¥4.18

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 ¥24.12

$3.15 ¥21.29

13.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 ¥82.6

$9.93 ¥67.1

23.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ¥5.85

$0.57 ¥3.87

52.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ¥12.82

$1.27 ¥8.57

49.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.71

$0.27 ¥1.82

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.39 ¥151

$16.93 ¥114

32.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 ¥11.06

$1.41 ¥9.55

16.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.55

$0.32 ¥2.19

18.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.98 ¥47.13

$6.50 ¥43.93

7.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥7.93

$1.08 ¥7.32

8.33%

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

$23.0K ¥155.6K

$13.6K ¥92.2K

68.73%

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

$20.6K ¥139.3K

$16.7K ¥112.8K

23.50%

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

$65.5 ¥442

$45.67 ¥309

43.35%

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

$8.42 ¥56.9

$9.70 ¥65.5

-13.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.94 ¥87.4

$11.73 ¥79.2

10.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 ¥338

$18.40 ¥124

172.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.73 ¥120

$14.01 ¥94.6

26.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 ¥46.27

$6.42 ¥43.37

6.70%

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

$452 ¥3,055

$199 ¥1,342

127.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K ¥139.2K

$6,287 ¥42.5K

227.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.37 ¥333

$70.8 ¥478

-30.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.72 ¥207

$24.59 ¥166

24.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ¥519

$76.6 ¥517

0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 ¥537

$73.6 ¥497

8.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$728 ¥4,919

$152 ¥1,030

377.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 ¥2,793

$88.9 ¥601

365.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,661 ¥11.2K

$316 ¥2,134

425.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$900 ¥6,079

$219 ¥1,482

310.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.3K ¥83.3K

$1,461 ¥9,871

743.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,024 ¥40.7K

$969 ¥6,545

521.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,740 ¥11.8K

$791 ¥5,346

119.89%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Linyi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $728 in Shenzhen and $152 in Linyi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 120% 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 $30.00 in Linyi. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $188, with Linyi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Linyi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Linyi wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Linyi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 120% 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 $152 in Linyi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $452 in Shenzhen versus $199 in Linyi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Shenzhen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $614 in Linyi versus $1,017 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Linyi but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Linyi 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 Linyi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.