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Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Nanjing Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Nanjing

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 12.6% more expensive than Nanjing without rent, and 24.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Shenzhen is 12.3% more expensive than Nanjing without rent, and 33.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.27 ยฅ22.83
$2.80 ยฅ19.60
16.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.04 ยฅ196
$22.53 ยฅ157
24.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 ยฅ35.45
$4.79 ยฅ33.45
5.85%
Cappuccino
$3.18 ยฅ22.22
$3.10 ยฅ21.66
2.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ยฅ3.60
$0.41 ยฅ2.87
24.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ยฅ1.96
$0.24 ยฅ1.67
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 ยฅ8.87
$0.82 ยฅ5.73
54.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ยฅ19.21
$2.14 ยฅ14.99
28.50%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ยฅ12.53
$2.31 ยฅ16.18
-22.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ยฅ14.30
$2.11 ยฅ14.77
-2.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 ยฅ8.58
$0.77 ยฅ5.38
59.74%
Eggs
$1.84 ยฅ12.87
$1.49 ยฅ10.43
23.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.95 ยฅ90.5
$9.34 ยฅ65.3
38.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 ยฅ28.43
$2.79 ยฅ19.51
45.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.38 ยฅ93.5
$9.14 ยฅ63.9
46.39%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ยฅ12.65
$2.15 ยฅ15.01
-15.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 ยฅ9.88
$1.43 ยฅ9.97
-1.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 ยฅ12.20
$1.65 ยฅ11.55
5.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.34 ยฅ9.39
$1.15 ยฅ8.01
16.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 ยฅ7.36
$0.94 ยฅ6.60
11.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ยฅ9.89
$0.92 ยฅ6.42
54.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 ยฅ5.23
$0.82 ยฅ5.71
-8.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ยฅ3.98
$0.57 ยฅ4.00
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ยฅ24.06
$3.42 ยฅ23.92
0.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.46 ยฅ94.1
$14.49 ยฅ101
-7.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ยฅ6.61
$0.92 ยฅ6.46
3.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ยฅ12.90
$1.49 ยฅ10.39
24.16%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ยฅ3.07
$0.27 ยฅ1.87
62.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.17 ยฅ155
$28.12 ยฅ197
-21.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 ยฅ11.39
$1.50 ยฅ10.46
8.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 ยฅ2.39
$0.38 ยฅ2.67
-10.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.91 ยฅ48.28
$8.38 ยฅ58.6
-17.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ยฅ8.27
$1.13 ยฅ7.88
4.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K ยฅ162.8K
$16.8K ยฅ117.2K
38.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K ยฅ144.7K
$14.2K ยฅ99.3K
45.79%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.2 ยฅ470
$41.75 ยฅ292
60.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.23 ยฅ57.5
$10.81 ยฅ75.5
-23.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.94 ยฅ90.4
$11.01 ยฅ76.9
17.53%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.27 ยฅ344
$26.12 ยฅ183
88.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.48 ยฅ122
$29.23 ยฅ204
-40.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 ยฅ48.27
$5.49 ยฅ38.35
25.87%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 ยฅ3,231
$398 ยฅ2,779
16.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K ยฅ146.1K
$18.6K ยฅ129.7K
12.64%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.87 ยฅ342
$43.09 ยฅ301
13.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.17 ยฅ211
$33.10 ยฅ231
-8.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ยฅ538
$67.4 ยฅ471
14.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5 ยฅ563
$82.2 ยฅ574
-2.00%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 ยฅ5,186
$426 ยฅ2,980
74.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ยฅ2,839
$307 ยฅ2,144
32.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,654 ยฅ11.6K
$903 ยฅ6,311
83.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$901 ยฅ6,301
$558 ยฅ3,898
61.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.5K ยฅ94.0K
$5,713 ยฅ39.9K
135.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,966 ยฅ41.7K
$3,224 ยฅ22.5K
85.05%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Nanjing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 ยฅ11.1K
$1,218 ยฅ8,515
30.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
3.87
4.39%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shenzhen: January 13, 2026

Last update for Nanjing: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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