Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Ningbo Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Ningbo

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 8.2% more expensive than Ningbo without rent, and 22.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 4.9% more expensive than Ningbo without rent, and 28.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.18 Β₯21.99
$3.20 Β₯22.14
-0.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.99 Β₯193
$24.10 Β₯167
16.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 Β₯34.93
$4.28 Β₯29.60
17.99%
Cappuccino
$3.33 Β₯22.98
$3.16 Β₯21.87
5.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Β₯3.38
$0.45 Β₯3.09
8.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 Β₯2.07
$0.26 Β₯1.78
15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.28 Β₯8.87
$0.96 Β₯6.60
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 Β₯19.45
$2.07 Β₯14.31
35.75%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Β₯12.51
$2.07 Β₯14.28
-12.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 Β₯14.02
$2.73 Β₯18.88
-25.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 Β₯8.44
$0.79 Β₯5.45
54.43%
Eggs
$1.86 Β₯12.86
$1.34 Β₯9.27
38.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 Β₯89.7
$20.63 Β₯143
-37.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Β₯27.95
$4.87 Β₯33.64
-16.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.37 Β₯92.4
$11.72 Β₯81.0
14.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 Β₯12.54
$1.88 Β₯12.99
-3.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 Β₯10.04
$1.49 Β₯10.27
-2.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 Β₯12.34
$2.25 Β₯15.51
-20.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 Β₯9.32
$1.11 Β₯7.68
21.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 Β₯7.32
$0.65 Β₯4.50
63.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 Β₯9.85
$0.86 Β₯5.92
66.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 Β₯4.81
$0.58 Β₯4.01
20.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 Β₯4.18
$0.57 Β₯3.97
7.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 Β₯24.75
$5.21 Β₯36.03
-31.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 Β₯92.7
$7.75 Β₯53.6
73.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 Β₯6.07
$1.14 Β₯7.88
-22.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 Β₯13.21
$1.97 Β₯13.64
-3.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 Β₯2.79
$0.27 Β₯1.84
48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.87 Β₯151
$16.87 Β₯117
29.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.64 Β₯11.34
$1.64 Β₯11.35
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Β₯2.41
$0.36 Β₯2.46
-2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.88 Β₯47.56
$7.11 Β₯49.13
-3.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 Β₯8.07
$1.20 Β₯8.28
-2.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K Β₯159.3K
$21.7K Β₯150.2K
6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K Β₯143.2K
$19.2K Β₯132.4K
8.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.6 Β₯453
$66.4 Β₯459
-1.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30 Β₯57.3
$15.43 Β₯107
-46.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.03 Β₯90.0
$6.88 Β₯47.56
89.39%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.30 Β₯341
$22.10 Β₯153
123.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.51 Β₯121
$13.21 Β₯91.3
32.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07 Β₯48.86
$8.13 Β₯56.2
-13.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 Β₯3,138
$596 Β₯4,121
-23.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K Β₯141.6K
$15.5K Β₯106.8K
32.60%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.31 Β₯334
$42.39 Β₯293
13.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67 Β₯212
$28.90 Β₯200
6.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 Β₯522
$68.5 Β₯473
10.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Β₯538
$62.3 Β₯431
25.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$755 Β₯5,220
$386 Β₯2,668
95.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 Β₯2,796
$256 Β₯1,768
58.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 Β₯11.5K
$880 Β₯6,078
88.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 Β₯6,238
$491 Β₯3,395
83.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.5K Β₯93.3K
$4,556 Β₯31.5K
196.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,851 Β₯40.4K
$2,581 Β₯17.8K
126.71%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Ningbo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,625 Β₯11.2K
$1,129 Β₯7,798
43.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
4.85
-16.70%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: March 2, 2026

Last update for Ningbo: March 3, 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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