Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Shenyang Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Shenyang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,140 in Shenzhen versus $727 in Shenyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,759 in Shenzhen versus $1,082 in Shenyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,378 in Shenzhen versus $1,436 in Shenyang.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 57% more expensive than in Shenyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 17% lower, Shenyang 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 ¥27.11

$2.91 ¥19.50

39.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 ¥201

$22.37 ¥150

33.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 ¥34.27

$5.26 ¥35.23

-2.66%

Cappuccino

$3.40 ¥22.78

$2.36 ¥15.81

44.07%

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

$0.54 ¥3.61

$0.49 ¥3.31

10.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ¥2.35

$0.38 ¥2.55

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ¥10.11

$0.85 ¥5.67

77.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ¥14.69

$1.90 ¥12.72

15.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ¥10.54

$1.90 ¥12.72

-17.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 ¥12.39

$2.38 ¥15.92

-22.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 ¥8.12

$1.07 ¥7.17

13.08%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.34

$1.03 ¥6.88

64.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.16 ¥148

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 ¥24.69

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.25 ¥95.4

$11.80 ¥79.1

20.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ¥15.49

$1.77 ¥11.85

30.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ¥10.71

$1.16 ¥7.75

37.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.19

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.43

$1.53 ¥10.27

-7.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.86

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 ¥10.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ¥3.91

$0.62 ¥4.17

-6.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ¥3.62

$0.64 ¥4.32

-15.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.39 ¥29.43

$3.74 ¥25.07

17.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 ¥84.7

$16.89 ¥113

-25.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.21

$0.65 ¥4.37

43.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ¥12.16

$1.15 ¥7.69

58.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 ¥4.18

$0.35 ¥2.38

77.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.17 ¥148

$12.44 ¥83.3

78.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ¥9.85

$1.33 ¥8.90

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.51

$0.29 ¥1.92

31.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.42 ¥49.69

$3.07 ¥20.56

141.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ¥8.50

$1.26 ¥8.45

0.79%

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

$19.7K ¥131.8K

$19.1K ¥128.2K

2.75%

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

$18.2K ¥122.1K

$18.2K ¥122.0K

0.07%

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

$61.2 ¥410

$74.5 ¥499

-17.89%

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

$10.07 ¥67.5

$15.51 ¥104

-35.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.90 ¥99.8

$15.19 ¥102

-1.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.64 ¥332

$22.64 ¥152

119.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.20 ¥115

$10.63 ¥71.2

61.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.67 ¥51.4

$6.00 ¥40.20

27.83%

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

$524 ¥3,507

$540 ¥3,616

-3.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K ¥158.2K

$21.2K ¥141.9K

11.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.44 ¥331

$40.91 ¥274

20.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.23 ¥263

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 ¥459

$60.5 ¥405

13.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.2 ¥597

$69.2 ¥463

28.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 ¥5,114

$275 ¥1,842

177.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 ¥3,168

$244 ¥1,633

94.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,851 ¥12.4K

$556 ¥3,725

232.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥5,777

$407 ¥2,727

111.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.6K ¥90.8K

$2,309 ¥15.5K

487.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,418 ¥43.0K

$1,305 ¥8,738

391.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,688 ¥11.3K

$1,086 ¥7,271

55.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.37

4.37

-22.88%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: September 6, 2026

Last update for Shenyang: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $764 in Shenzhen and $275 in Shenyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 55% 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: $30.00 in Shenzhen vs $22.00 in Shenyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $160 per month, with Shenyang cheaper across the board.

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 Shenyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shenyang wins on cost – living expenses run 57% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Shenyang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 55% higher in Shenzhen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $764 in Shenzhen versus $275 in Shenyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Shenyang – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $30.00 in Shenzhen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,140 per month in Shenzhen versus $727 in Shenyang – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $727 in Shenyang versus $1,140 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shenyang but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Shenyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Shenyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.