Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Mianyang, Sichuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Mianyang, Sichuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,006 per month in Shenzhen vs $666 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,658 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,055 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,311 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,443 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

Shenzhen costs about 51% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shenzhen and Mianyang, Sichuan are more affordable than the global median – Shenzhen 25% lower, Mianyang, Sichuan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.28 ¥22.48

$2.84 ¥19.45

15.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.26 ¥194

$16.58 ¥114

70.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.14 ¥35.19

$4.92 ¥33.70

4.47%

Cappuccino

$3.22 ¥22.06

$2.78 ¥19.02

15.83%

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

$0.52 ¥3.53

$0.43 ¥2.93

20.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.91

$0.27 ¥1.84

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 ¥8.74

$1.09 ¥7.49

17.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ¥19.21

$2.12 ¥14.52

32.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥11.98

$1.42 ¥9.75

23.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 ¥13.38

$1.41 ¥9.69

38.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 ¥8.50

$0.87 ¥5.94

42.53%

Eggs

$1.87 ¥12.78

$1.86 ¥12.71

0.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.87 ¥88.2

$13.87 ¥95.0

-7.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.97 ¥27.20

$3.37 ¥23.06

17.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.75 ¥94.2

$11.16 ¥76.5

23.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ¥12.74

$1.88 ¥12.91

-1.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥10.03

$1.18 ¥8.07

23.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.97

$1.45 ¥9.93

20.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ¥9.61

$1.06 ¥7.27

32.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.28

$0.65 ¥4.47

63.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.63

$0.75 ¥5.14

88.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ¥5.17

$0.59 ¥4.02

27.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.87

$0.56 ¥3.84

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 ¥23.54

$3.30 ¥22.61

4.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 ¥97.6

$5.62 ¥38.49

153.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.38

$0.77 ¥5.27

20.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ¥13.24

$1.23 ¥8.40

56.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.99

$0.27 ¥1.83

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.51 ¥154

$16.68 ¥114

34.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.13

$0.95 ¥6.47

71.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.26 ¥1.79

46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.81 ¥46.63

$4.20 ¥28.75

62.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥7.96

$1.13 ¥7.75

2.65%

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

$23.4K ¥160.5K

$19.0K ¥130.1K

23.31%

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

$20.1K ¥137.5K

$16.3K ¥111.5K

23.28%

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

$67.6 ¥463

$43.75 ¥300

54.40%

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

$8.39 ¥57.4

$6.26 ¥42.91

34.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.11 ¥89.8

$11.67 ¥80.0

12.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.79 ¥341

$41.11 ¥282

21.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.43 ¥119

$13.99 ¥95.9

24.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 ¥48.56

$5.22 ¥35.74

35.82%

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

$464 ¥3,179

$339 ¥2,325

36.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥142.3K

$12.3K ¥84.4K

68.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.32 ¥338

$36.95 ¥253

33.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.89 ¥205

$38.20 ¥262

-21.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.6 ¥511

$55.4 ¥380

34.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 ¥546

$50.3 ¥344

58.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ¥4,974

$282 ¥1,933

157.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 ¥2,806

$185 ¥1,271

120.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 ¥11.5K

$593 ¥4,065

181.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,185

$364 ¥2,494

147.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.5K

$3,249 ¥22.3K

302.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,063 ¥41.5K

$1,787 ¥12.2K

239.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,687 ¥11.6K

$710 ¥4,865

137.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.1

30.32%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Mianyang, Sichuan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $726 in Shenzhen versus $282 in Mianyang, Sichuan. 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 138% 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 $28.00 in Shenzhen versus $17.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $234 vs $189 – making Mianyang, Sichuan 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 Mianyang, Sichuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,006 in Shenzhen, $666 in Mianyang, Sichuan – roughly 51% apart. Shenzhen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,508 per month in Shenzhen and $1,000 in Mianyang, Sichuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $464 per month in Shenzhen and $339 in Mianyang, Sichuan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Shenzhen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mianyang, Sichuan, where all-in costs run around $666, than in Shenzhen at $1,006. In Mianyang, Sichuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shenzhen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mianyang, Sichuan – 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 Mianyang, Sichuan. 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.