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: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $613 in Weihai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $939 in Weihai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,265 in Weihai.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 69% more expensive than Weihai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Weihai 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.19

$2.76 ¥18.67

13.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$16.98 ¥115

62.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.28

$4.66 ¥31.58

8.58%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.53

$3.47 ¥23.47

-4.03%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.43 ¥2.94

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.31 ¥2.12

-9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.29

$0.83 ¥5.59

46.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.15

$2.03 ¥13.76

39.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.73

$1.31 ¥8.84

32.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.36

$1.08 ¥7.30

82.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.35

$0.91 ¥6.15

35.16%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.11

$1.22 ¥8.25

59.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.4

$11.29 ¥76.5

13.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.45

$3.94 ¥26.67

2.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.2

$10.32 ¥69.9

30.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$1.00 ¥6.79

88.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.54

$0.75 ¥5.08

88.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.33

$1.36 ¥9.19

33.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.09

$1.06 ¥7.15

26.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.10

$0.41 ¥2.77

156.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.92

$0.40 ¥2.73

265.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.71 ¥4.83

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.51 ¥3.43

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.90

$3.72 ¥25.21

-9.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.5

$7.57 ¥51.3

70.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.39

$0.40 ¥2.71

135.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.66

$1.52 ¥10.30

23.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.22 ¥1.49

81.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$12.63 ¥85.5

72.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.03

$1.10 ¥7.43

48.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.20 ¥1.35

75.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.52

$7.04 ¥47.66

-0.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.99

$1.06 ¥7.21

11.32%

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

$22.9K ¥155.0K

$19.1K ¥129.5K

19.70%

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

$20.7K ¥140.4K

$16.1K ¥109.3K

28.51%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$35.22 ¥239

85.49%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$7.02 ¥47.53

16.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.4

$7.68 ¥52.0

69.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$41.21 ¥279

21.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$8.56 ¥58.0

103.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.49

$5.66 ¥38.31

21.20%

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

$457 ¥3,094

$276 ¥1,869

65.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.2K

$16.8K ¥113.7K

24.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥334

$75.1 ¥508

-34.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥208

$27.50 ¥186

11.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥503

$70.5 ¥478

5.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥543

$42.18 ¥286

90.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,990

$181 ¥1,224

307.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,785

$130 ¥882

215.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.5K

$345 ¥2,338

389.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,116

$183 ¥1,237

394.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.0K

$1,787 ¥12.1K

635.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$1,074 ¥7,276

479.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$618 ¥4,184

169.60%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Weihai: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $181 in Weihai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 170% 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 $230 vs $168 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 69% 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.

Shenzhen pays 170% 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 $181 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 72% 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 $276 in Weihai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $613 in Weihai versus $1,037 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 69% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.