Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Tonghua Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Tonghua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $717 in Tonghua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,129 in Tonghua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,541 in Tonghua.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 45% more expensive than Tonghua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Tonghua 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.19

$2.86 ¥19.39

9.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$21.25 ¥144

29.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.28

$4.97 ¥33.66

1.81%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.53

$3.09 ¥20.90

7.77%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.47 ¥3.19

2.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.27 ¥1.81

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.29

$0.87 ¥5.92

40.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.15

$2.04 ¥13.81

38.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.73

$1.55 ¥10.51

11.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.36

$1.61 ¥10.91

22.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.35

$0.88 ¥5.99

39.77%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.11

$1.63 ¥11.05

19.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.4

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.45

$3.12 ¥21.11

29.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.2

$10.06 ¥68.1

33.90%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$1.77 ¥12.02

6.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.54

$1.20 ¥8.15

17.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.33

$1.35 ¥9.16

34.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.09

$1.09 ¥7.39

22.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.10

$0.71 ¥4.82

47.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.92

$0.98 ¥6.61

48.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.57 ¥3.83

24.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.55 ¥3.71

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.90

$3.07 ¥20.82

10.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.5

$11.23 ¥76.1

15.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.39

$0.80 ¥5.40

17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.66

$1.64 ¥11.14

14.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.27 ¥1.80

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$16.43 ¥111

32.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.03

$1.41 ¥9.55

15.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.35 ¥2.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.52

$6.72 ¥45.53

4.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.99

$1.17 ¥7.90

0.85%

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

$22.9K ¥155.0K

$19.4K ¥131.6K

17.78%

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

$20.7K ¥140.4K

$16.6K ¥112.6K

24.65%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$46.29 ¥314

41.13%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$9.85 ¥66.7

-16.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.4

$11.76 ¥79.7

10.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$41.05 ¥278

22.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$13.94 ¥94.4

24.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.49

$6.31 ¥42.75

8.72%

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

$457 ¥3,094

$341 ¥2,308

34.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.2K

$17.0K ¥115.2K

22.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥334

$43.34 ¥294

13.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥208

$30.76 ¥208

-0.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥503

$71.2 ¥482

4.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥543

$74.1 ¥502

8.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,990

$274 ¥1,854

169.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,785

$184 ¥1,246

123.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.5K

$586 ¥3,967

188.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,116

$361 ¥2,442

150.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.0K

$3,232 ¥21.9K

306.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$1,756 ¥11.9K

254.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$504 ¥3,414

230.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.87

4.39%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tonghua: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $274 in Tonghua. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 230% 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 $21.00 in Tonghua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $195 per month, with Tonghua 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 Tonghua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tonghua wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tonghua the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 230% 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 $274 in Tonghua. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Tonghua runs roughly 32% 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 $341 in Tonghua. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $717 in Tonghua versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tonghua but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Tonghua 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 Tonghua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.