😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,006 in Shenzhen versus $783 in Quanzhou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,658 in Shenzhen versus $1,132 in Quanzhou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,311 in Shenzhen versus $1,481 in Quanzhou.
😐Living in Shenzhen is roughly 28% more expensive than Quanzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen25% lower, Quanzhou42% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.28¥22.48
$2.12¥14.49
54.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.26¥194
$23.35¥160
21.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.14¥35.19
$5.64¥38.62
-8.87%
Cappuccino
$3.22¥22.06
$2.73¥18.69
17.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52¥3.53
$0.48¥3.29
8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28¥1.91
$0.27¥1.83
3.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28¥8.74
$1.40¥9.59
-8.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80¥19.21
$2.97¥20.35
-5.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75¥11.98
$1.42¥9.72
23.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95¥13.38
$0.71¥4.88
174.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24¥8.50
$0.75¥5.17
65.33%
Eggs
$1.87¥12.78
$1.18¥8.07
58.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.87¥88.2
$10.96¥75.1
17.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.97¥27.20
$2.39¥16.37
66.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.75¥94.2
$11.29¥77.4
21.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86¥12.74
$2.46¥16.84
-24.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46¥10.03
$1.08¥7.40
35.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75¥11.97
$1.52¥10.40
15.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40¥9.61
$1.85¥12.65
-24.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06¥7.28
$0.91¥6.23
16.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41¥9.63
$1.64¥11.21
-14.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75¥5.17
$0.82¥5.65
-8.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.87
$0.52¥3.53
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44¥23.54
$2.75¥18.86
25.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25¥97.6
$7.45¥51.0
91.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93¥6.38
$0.80¥5.48
16.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93¥13.24
$1.58¥10.81
22.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44¥2.99
$0.27¥1.84
62.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.51¥154
$33.15¥227
-32.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.63¥11.13
$1.14¥7.80
42.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38¥2.59
$0.26¥1.77
46.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.81¥46.63
$6.86¥47.02
-0.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16¥7.96
$1.13¥7.72
2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K¥160.5K
$15.3K¥104.5K
53.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K¥137.5K
$13.7K¥93.6K
46.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.6¥463
$39.48¥270
71.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.39¥57.4
$4.06¥27.79
106.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.11¥89.8
$9.93¥68.0
32.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.79¥341
$55.3¥379
-10.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.43¥119
$28.31¥194
-38.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.09¥48.56
$5.63¥38.56
25.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$464¥3,179
$114¥784
305.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.8K¥142.3K
$21.1K¥144.5K
-1.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.32¥338
$28.13¥193
75.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.89¥205
$26.55¥182
12.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6¥511
$86.6¥593
-13.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7¥546
$80.9¥554
-1.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$726¥4,974
$241¥1,648
201.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410¥2,806
$251¥1,719
63.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,673¥11.5K
$423¥2,900
295.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$903¥6,185
$296¥2,026
205.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.1K¥89.5K
$2,880¥19.7K
353.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,063¥41.5K
$1,972¥13.5K
207.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Quanzhou
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,687¥11.6K
$750¥5,141
124.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.04
3.56
13.48%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Shenzhen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Quanzhou: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $726 in Shenzhen and $241 in Quanzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shenzhen pays 125% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Shenzhen vs $23.00 in Quanzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $179 per month, with Quanzhou cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Shenzhen vs Quanzhou: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Shenzhen and Quanzhou?
Shenzhen and Quanzhou differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,006 vs $783 including rent). Quanzhou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Shenzhen or Quanzhou?
Shenzhen pays 125% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Shenzhen and Quanzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $726 in Shenzhen versus $241 in Quanzhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Quanzhou – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $28.00 in Shenzhen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Shenzhen or Quanzhou?
All in, you'll spend $1,006 per month in Shenzhen versus $783 in Quanzhou – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $783 in Quanzhou versus $1,006 in Shenzhen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Quanzhou but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Quanzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Shenzhen and Quanzhou?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Shenzhen or Quanzhou?
Expats usually find Quanzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Shenzhen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado