Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Si Racha Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Si Racha

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $938 in Si Racha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,738 in Si Racha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $2,539 in Si Racha.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 11% more expensive than Si Racha, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Si Racha 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.18

$3.01 ฿98.5

3.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$31.37 ฿1,025

-12.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.26

$6.08 ฿199

-16.78%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.52

$2.45 ฿80.0

35.92%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.69 ฿22.54

-30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.37 ฿12.21

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.29

$2.40 ฿78.3

-49.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.14

$2.88 ฿94.3

-1.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.72

$1.77 ฿57.9

-2.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.36

$1.41 ฿46.04

39.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.35

$1.32 ฿43.11

-6.82%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.10

$2.27 ฿74.1

-14.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.3

$15.69 ฿513

-18.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.43

$3.06 ฿100.0

32.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.2

$9.57 ฿313

40.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.69

$3.37 ฿110

-44.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.54

$1.33 ฿43.40

6.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.33

$1.95 ฿63.9

-6.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.09

$1.47 ฿48.13

-8.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.10

$1.49 ฿48.60

-29.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.91

$1.22 ฿39.81

19.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$1.02 ฿33.22

-30.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.53 ฿17.35

7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.88

$4.47 ฿146

-24.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.4

$15.03 ฿491

-14.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.39

$1.74 ฿56.9

-45.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.65

$2.35 ฿76.9

-20.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.60 ฿19.70

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$36.71 ฿1,200

-40.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.02

$1.05 ฿34.40

55.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$1.20 ฿39.17

-70.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.49

$3.32 ฿109

111.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.99

$1.20 ฿39.39

-1.67%

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

$22.9K ¥154.9K

$25.7K ฿841.8K

-11.11%

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

$20.7K ¥140.3K

$25.8K ฿842.2K

-19.53%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$88.9 ฿2,905

-26.49%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$12.51 ฿409

-34.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.3

$18.40 ฿601

-29.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$51.5 ฿1,683

-2.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$7.79 ฿255

123.23%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.46

$7.57 ฿248

-9.38%

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

$457 ¥3,092

$295 ฿9,638

54.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.1K

$9,166 ฿299.6K

127.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥333

$30.35 ฿992

62.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥208

$19.44 ฿636

57.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥502

$101 ฿3,304

-26.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥543

$47.07 ฿1,539

70.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,987

$419 ฿13.7K

75.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,783

$282 ฿9,206

46.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.4K

$1,558 ฿50.9K

8.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,112

$1,077 ฿35.2K

-16.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.0K

$2,002 ฿65.4K

556.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$1,497 ฿48.9K

315.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$1,074 ฿35.1K

55.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

5.45

-25.87%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Si Racha: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $419 in Si Racha. 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: $28.00 in Shenzhen vs $31.00 in Si Racha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $238 per month, with Shenzhen 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 Si Racha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Si Racha wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Si Racha the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 55% more on average, 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: $737 in Shenzhen versus $419 in Si Racha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Si Racha runs roughly 69% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $457 in Shenzhen versus $295 in Si Racha. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $938 in Si Racha versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Si Racha but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Si Racha 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.

Safety-wise, Shenzhen and Si Racha are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Si Racha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.