Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Weihai Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Weihai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,032 in Shenzhen versus $603 in Weihai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,649 in Shenzhen versus $917 in Weihai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,266 in Shenzhen versus $1,231 in Weihai.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 71% more expensive than in Weihai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Weihai 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.13

$2.86 ¥19.34

9.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.60 ¥187

$16.84 ¥114

63.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 ¥32.92

$4.64 ¥31.33

4.96%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥22.43

$3.35 ¥22.67

-0.90%

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

$0.48 ¥3.27

$0.47 ¥3.16

2.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.29 ¥1.95

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ¥8.21

$0.80 ¥5.41

51.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ¥18.73

$2.07 ¥13.97

33.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥11.81

$1.33 ¥8.99

31.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.31

$1.09 ¥7.38

80.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.96

$0.90 ¥6.11

31.11%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.94

$1.22 ¥8.25

57.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 ¥85.8

$10.93 ¥73.9

16.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ¥26.56

$3.82 ¥25.80

2.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 ¥90.4

$10.37 ¥70.1

29.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ¥12.61

$0.98 ¥6.66

90.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.89

$0.78 ¥5.30

87.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.27

$1.36 ¥9.20

33.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 ¥9.42

$1.06 ¥7.16

31.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.39

$0.40 ¥2.73

172.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.59

$0.41 ¥2.75

246.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ¥5.04

$0.68 ¥4.61

10.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.84

$0.50 ¥3.40

14.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ¥22.91

$3.73 ¥25.21

-9.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.61 ¥85.2

$7.35 ¥49.70

71.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.26

$0.40 ¥2.70

132.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ¥12.86

$1.59 ¥10.76

19.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.97

$0.20 ¥1.35

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.23 ¥150

$12.75 ¥86.2

74.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ¥11.39

$1.09 ¥7.33

55.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.53

$0.20 ¥1.35

85.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 ¥45.58

$6.88 ¥46.51

-1.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥7.70

$1.06 ¥7.15

7.55%

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

$22.7K ¥153.4K

$19.0K ¥128.6K

19.31%

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

$20.7K ¥139.7K

$15.7K ¥106.3K

31.41%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$35.25 ¥238

85.36%

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

$8.39 ¥56.7

$6.93 ¥46.80

21.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.08 ¥88.4

$7.72 ¥52.2

69.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ¥344

$42.37 ¥286

20.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.60 ¥119

$8.40 ¥56.7

109.52%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 ¥47.82

$5.60 ¥37.82

26.43%

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

$467 ¥3,154

$278 ¥1,879

67.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K ¥139.8K

$17.3K ¥116.6K

19.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.53 ¥328

$75.3 ¥509

-35.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 ¥205

$28.30 ¥191

6.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ¥505

$68.9 ¥466

8.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 ¥536

$41.87 ¥283

89.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ¥4,945

$183 ¥1,238

299.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 ¥2,773

$132 ¥890

211.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,699 ¥11.5K

$344 ¥2,321

394.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 ¥6,148

$186 ¥1,258

388.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K ¥87.3K

$1,738 ¥11.7K

642.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,000 ¥40.5K

$1,107 ¥7,479

442.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,720 ¥11.6K

$599 ¥4,045

187.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.5

15.43%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: July 14, 2026

Last update for Weihai: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $732 in Shenzhen and $183 in Weihai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 187% 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 $17.00 in Weihai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $167 per month, with Weihai 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 Weihai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Weihai wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Weihai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 187% 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: $732 in Shenzhen versus $183 in Weihai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Weihai runs roughly 74% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $467 in Shenzhen versus $278 in Weihai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $603 in Weihai versus $1,032 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Weihai but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Weihai 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 Weihai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.