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 $1,108 per month in Shenzhen vs $645 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,752 per month in Shenzhen vs $988 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,397 per month in Shenzhen vs $1,331 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

Shenzhen costs about 72% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shenzhen and Mianyang, Sichuan are more affordable than the global median – Shenzhen 19% lower, Mianyang, Sichuan 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.68 ¥24.65

$2.91 ¥19.48

26.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 ¥201

$17.69 ¥118

69.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ¥34.35

$5.05 ¥33.86

1.58%

Cappuccino

$3.26 ¥21.81

$2.85 ¥19.10

14.39%

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

$0.58 ¥3.86

$0.47 ¥3.12

23.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ¥2.37

$0.28 ¥1.90

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ¥9.72

$1.52 ¥10.18

-4.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ¥15.23

$2.47 ¥16.56

-8.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.91

$1.53 ¥10.22

6.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 ¥12.47

$1.67 ¥11.16

11.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ¥8.16

$0.89 ¥5.93

37.08%

Eggs

$1.72 ¥11.55

$1.59 ¥10.63

8.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.88 ¥147

$14.51 ¥97.2

50.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ¥24.12

$3.47 ¥23.22

3.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.34 ¥96.0

$10.99 ¥73.6

30.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 ¥15.06

$1.88 ¥12.58

19.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ¥10.63

$1.31 ¥8.76

21.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.61

$1.07 ¥7.17

75.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$1.24 ¥8.31

19.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.23

$0.75 ¥5.03

64.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.90

$0.73 ¥4.88

102.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ¥3.88

$0.58 ¥3.92

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.62

$0.59 ¥3.96

-8.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.40 ¥29.50

$3.70 ¥24.79

18.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.74 ¥85.3

$5.61 ¥37.56

127.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ¥6.59

$0.83 ¥5.59

18.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥12.15

$1.37 ¥9.18

32.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 ¥4.19

$0.29 ¥1.91

117.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.30 ¥149

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ¥9.79

$1.05 ¥7.06

39.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.51

$0.28 ¥1.90

32.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.09 ¥47.50

$4.53 ¥30.37

56.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ¥8.77

$1.28 ¥8.60

2.34%

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

$19.4K ¥129.7K

$19.0K ¥127.2K

2.01%

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

$18.4K ¥123.2K

$17.4K ¥116.2K

6.01%

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

$62.1 ¥416

$40.65 ¥272

52.82%

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

$10.07 ¥67.5

$6.63 ¥44.38

51.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 ¥99.9

$12.84 ¥86.0

16.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ¥326

$18.16 ¥122

168.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.94 ¥113

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ¥50.1

$5.64 ¥37.75

32.62%

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

$535 ¥3,581

$416 ¥2,785

28.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥160.9K

$15.0K ¥100.2K

60.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.75 ¥333

$28.82 ¥193

72.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 ¥264

$30.35 ¥203

30.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 ¥467

$59.2 ¥397

17.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.5 ¥586

$52.6 ¥352

66.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ¥5,037

$220 ¥1,473

241.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ¥3,117

$192 ¥1,287

142.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,819 ¥12.2K

$420 ¥2,812

333.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 ¥5,774

$327 ¥2,188

163.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.0K

$2,638 ¥17.7K

397.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,442 ¥43.2K

$1,780 ¥11.9K

262.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,732 ¥11.6K

$722 ¥4,836

139.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

3.1

9.68%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mianyang, Sichuan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Shenzhen versus $220 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 140% 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 $18.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $195 – 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: $1,108 in Shenzhen, $645 in Mianyang, Sichuan – roughly 72% apart. Shenzhen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,662 per month in Shenzhen and $968 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,108 in Shenzhen and $645 in Mianyang, Sichuan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $535 per month in Shenzhen and $416 in Mianyang, Sichuan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mianyang, Sichuan, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Shenzhen at $1,108. 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.