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: $1,108 in Shenzhen versus $595 in Linyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Shenzhen versus $950 in Linyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,397 in Shenzhen versus $1,305 in Linyi.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 86% more expensive than in Linyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 19% lower, Linyi 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.68 ¥24.65

$2.35 ¥15.73

56.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 ¥201

$24.11 ¥161

24.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ¥34.35

$5.07 ¥33.94

1.18%

Cappuccino

$3.26 ¥21.81

$2.46 ¥16.48

32.52%

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

$0.58 ¥3.86

$0.44 ¥2.96

31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ¥2.37

$0.21 ¥1.40

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ¥9.72

$0.87 ¥5.80

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ¥15.23

$2.03 ¥13.57

11.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.91

$1.58 ¥10.56

3.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 ¥12.47

$1.39 ¥9.31

33.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ¥8.16

$0.42 ¥2.81

190.48%

Eggs

$1.72 ¥11.55

$1.18 ¥7.92

45.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.88 ¥147

$9.18 ¥61.5

138.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ¥24.12

$1.77 ¥11.82

103.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 ¥96.0

$11.27 ¥75.5

27.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ¥15.06

$1.13 ¥7.56

99.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ¥10.63

$1.07 ¥7.14

48.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.61

$1.00 ¥6.72

88.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$0.93 ¥6.25

59.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.23

$0.46 ¥3.10

167.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$0.41 ¥2.75

260.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ¥3.88

$0.56 ¥3.77

3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.62

$0.67 ¥4.48

-19.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.40 ¥29.50

$4.50 ¥30.15

-2.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.74 ¥85.3

$9.78 ¥65.5

30.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ¥6.59

$0.71 ¥4.77

38.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥12.15

$1.31 ¥8.75

38.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 ¥4.19

$0.29 ¥1.92

117.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.30 ¥149

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ¥9.79

$1.07 ¥7.14

36.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.51

$0.29 ¥1.93

27.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.09 ¥47.50

$4.34 ¥29.04

63.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥8.77

$1.10 ¥7.39

19.09%

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

$19.4K ¥129.7K

$16.7K ¥111.8K

16.07%

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

$18.4K ¥123.2K

$14.6K ¥97.8K

25.98%

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

$62.1 ¥416

$71.3 ¥477

-12.81%

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

$10.07 ¥67.5

$4.77 ¥31.92

111.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 ¥99.9

$5.12 ¥34.31

191.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ¥326

$53.7 ¥359

-9.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.94 ¥113

$25.70 ¥172

-34.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ¥50.1

$5.11 ¥34.24

46.38%

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

$535 ¥3,581

$216 ¥1,448

147.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥160.9K

$10.4K ¥69.5K

131.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.75 ¥333

$22.70 ¥152

119.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 ¥264

$22.04 ¥148

79.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 ¥467

$71.7 ¥480

-2.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.5 ¥586

$68.3 ¥458

28.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ¥5,037

$210 ¥1,410

257.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ¥3,117

$113 ¥755

313.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 ¥12.2K

$499 ¥3,344

264.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 ¥5,774

$205 ¥1,374

320.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.0K

$1,516 ¥10.2K

766.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,442 ¥43.2K

$999 ¥6,689

545.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,732 ¥11.6K

$779 ¥5,216

122.45%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Linyi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $752 in Shenzhen and $210 in Linyi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 122% 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 $24.00 in Linyi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $165 per month, with Linyi 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 Linyi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Linyi wins on cost – living expenses run 86% 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 122% 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: $752 in Shenzhen versus $210 in Linyi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Shenzhen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,108 per month in Shenzhen versus $595 in Linyi – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $595 in Linyi versus $1,108 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 86% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.