Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Xiamen Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Xiamen

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 13.2% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 27.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 21.4% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 32.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17 ¥22.75
$2.76 ¥19.79
14.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.46 ¥197
$23.39 ¥168
17.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.92 ¥35.32
$5.63 ¥40.41
-12.61%
Cappuccino
$3.19 ¥22.91
$2.75 ¥19.74
16.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.69
$0.51 ¥3.62
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.98
$0.31 ¥2.25
-9.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ¥8.7
$1.41 ¥10.12
-14.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ¥19.42
$3.52 ¥25.26
-23.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥12.87
$1.86 ¥13.37
-3.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ¥14.69
$2.14 ¥15.37
-4.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.75
$0.75 ¥5.41
62.67%
Eggs
$1.87 ¥13.4
$1.35 ¥9.68
38.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 ¥91.4
$11.04 ¥79.2
15.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 ¥27.55
$2.36 ¥16.91
62.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 ¥96.6
$11.06 ¥79.4
21.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.06
$2.45 ¥17.55
-25.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ¥10.56
$1.38 ¥9.88
6.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.03
$1.56 ¥11.17
16.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.4 ¥10.01
$1.82 ¥13.09
-23.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.85
$0.9 ¥6.48
21.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.43
$1.71 ¥12.28
-15.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ¥5.33
$0.81 ¥5.84
-8.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.35
$0.51 ¥3.65
19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.4 ¥24.37
$2.77 ¥19.85
22.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.61 ¥90.5
$10.51 ¥75.4
19.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.9 ¥6.43
$0.8 ¥5.72
12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 ¥13.66
$1.64 ¥11.77
15.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥3.09
$0.22 ¥1.58
95.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 ¥160
$11.1 ¥79.6
101.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 ¥12.3
$1.37 ¥9.79
24.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.5
$0.28 ¥2.03
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.74 ¥48.33
$6.61 ¥47.44
1.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.04
$1.13 ¥8.1
-0.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ¥165.8K
$16.3K ¥116.7K
42.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ¥145.2K
$17.8K ¥127.7K
13.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.1 ¥482
$39.45 ¥283
70.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.16 ¥58.6
$9.96 ¥71.4
-18.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.86 ¥92.2
$9.71 ¥69.7
32.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 ¥361
$43.63 ¥313
15.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.3 ¥124
$9.98 ¥71.6
73.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.1 ¥50.9
$9.6 ¥68.8
-26.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 ¥3,267
$459 ¥3,292
-0.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K ¥147.8K
$22.7K ¥163K
-9.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.43 ¥355
$42.43 ¥304
16.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.29 ¥217
$27.41 ¥197
10.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ¥537
$83.5 ¥599
-10.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8 ¥558
$79.3 ¥569
-1.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 ¥5,220
$335 ¥2,403
117.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ¥2,915
$249 ¥1,784
63.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$844 ¥6,056
101.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$907 ¥6,505
$508 ¥3,646
78.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.4K ¥88.6K
$8,753 ¥62.8K
41.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,786 ¥41.5K
$5,019 ¥36K
15.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,702 ¥12.2K
$847 ¥6,073
101.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
3.56
13.48%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Xiamen: October 28, 2025

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