Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Qingdao, Shandong Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Qingdao, Shandong

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 5.1% more expensive than Qingdao, Shandong without rent, and 31.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 8.3% more expensive than Qingdao, Shandong without rent, and 33.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17 ¥22.75
$3.41 ¥24.46
-7.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.46 ¥197
$18.17 ¥130
51.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ¥35.32
$4.52 ¥32.4
8.85%
Cappuccino
$3.19 ¥22.91
$3.42 ¥24.52
-6.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.69
$0.58 ¥4.14
-12.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.98
$0.31 ¥2.23
-9.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ¥8.7
$0.87 ¥6.24
39.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ¥19.42
$2.03 ¥14.54
33.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥12.87
$1.95 ¥14
-8.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ¥14.69
$1.52 ¥10.9
34.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.75
$0.92 ¥6.59
32.61%
Eggs
$1.87 ¥13.4
$1.89 ¥13.55
-1.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 ¥91.4
$14.68 ¥105
-13.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 ¥27.55
$4.23 ¥30.37
-9.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 ¥96.6
$10.18 ¥73
32.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.06
$1.37 ¥9.8
32.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ¥10.56
$1.15 ¥8.26
27.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.03
$1.91 ¥13.71
-4.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.4 ¥10.01
$1.01 ¥7.27
38.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.85
$0.75 ¥5.36
45.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.43
$1.09 ¥7.79
33.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ¥5.33
$0.94 ¥6.72
-21.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.35
$0.47 ¥3.37
29.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.4 ¥24.37
$3.98 ¥28.54
-14.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.61 ¥90.5
$13.84 ¥99.3
-8.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.9 ¥6.43
$1.04 ¥7.44
-13.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 ¥13.66
$1.58 ¥11.32
20.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥3.09
$0.3 ¥2.17
43.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 ¥160
$16.62 ¥119
34.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ¥12.3
$1.43 ¥10.24
19.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.5
$0.32 ¥2.27
9.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 ¥48.33
$7.5 ¥53.8
-10.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.04
$1.11 ¥7.98
0.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ¥165.8K
$19.9K ¥143K
15.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ¥145.2K
$13.3K ¥95.2K
52.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.1 ¥482
$52.4 ¥376
28.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.16 ¥58.6
$10.92 ¥78.4
-25.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.86 ¥92.2
$10.39 ¥74.5
23.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 ¥361
$26.42 ¥190
90.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.3 ¥124
$20.84 ¥149
-16.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.1 ¥50.9
$6.88 ¥49.31
3.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 ¥3,267
$336 ¥2,412
35.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K ¥147.8K
$24.6K ¥176.6K
-16.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.43 ¥355
$77.9 ¥559
-36.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29 ¥217
$38.63 ¥277
-21.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ¥537
$79.8 ¥572
-6.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8 ¥558
$102 ¥735
-24.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 ¥5,220
$342 ¥2,456
112.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ¥2,915
$190 ¥1,365
113.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$730 ¥5,233
133.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$907 ¥6,505
$415 ¥2,976
118.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.4K ¥88.6K
$3,925 ¥28.2K
214.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,786 ¥41.5K
$2,394 ¥17.2K
141.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$941 ¥6,750
80.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
3.81
6.04%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.