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

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 11% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 28% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 9% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 32.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.18 Β₯21.99
$2.87 Β₯19.84
10.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.99 Β₯193
$23.07 Β₯159
21.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 Β₯34.93
$5.62 Β₯38.86
-10.14%
Cappuccino
$3.33 Β₯22.98
$2.86 Β₯19.78
16.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Β₯3.38
$0.51 Β₯3.51
-3.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 Β₯2.07
$0.29 Β₯2.00
3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.28 Β₯8.87
$1.43 Β₯9.87
-10.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 Β₯19.45
$3.58 Β₯24.75
-21.51%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Β₯12.51
$1.81 Β₯12.48
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 Β₯14.02
$2.18 Β₯15.08
-6.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 Β₯8.44
$0.81 Β₯5.62
50.62%
Eggs
$1.86 Β₯12.86
$1.34 Β₯9.27
38.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 Β₯89.7
$11.18 Β₯77.3
16.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Β₯27.95
$2.31 Β₯15.94
75.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.37 Β₯92.4
$11.18 Β₯77.3
19.59%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 Β₯12.54
$2.36 Β₯16.34
-22.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 Β₯10.04
$1.35 Β₯9.30
7.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 Β₯12.34
$1.50 Β₯10.39
19.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 Β₯9.32
$1.86 Β₯12.85
-27.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 Β₯7.32
$0.95 Β₯6.59
11.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 Β₯9.85
$1.65 Β₯11.38
-13.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 Β₯4.81
$0.83 Β₯5.72
-15.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 Β₯4.18
$0.51 Β₯3.52
19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 Β₯24.75
$2.76 Β₯19.06
29.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 Β₯92.7
$11.03 Β₯76.2
21.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 Β₯6.07
$0.80 Β₯5.49
10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 Β₯13.21
$1.64 Β₯11.35
16.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 Β₯2.79
$0.20 Β₯1.38
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.87 Β₯151
$11.28 Β₯78.0
93.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.64 Β₯11.34
$1.42 Β₯9.84
15.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Β₯2.41
$0.28 Β₯1.96
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.88 Β₯47.56
$6.86 Β₯47.42
0.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 Β₯8.07
$1.19 Β₯8.20
-1.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K Β₯159.3K
$16.3K Β₯112.7K
41.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K Β₯143.2K
$17.4K Β₯120.5K
18.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.6 Β₯453
$38.50 Β₯266
70.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30 Β₯57.3
$10.05 Β₯69.5
-17.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.03 Β₯90.0
$9.40 Β₯65.0
38.62%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.30 Β₯341
$45.01 Β₯311
9.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.51 Β₯121
$9.52 Β₯65.8
83.93%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07 Β₯48.86
$9.29 Β₯64.2
-23.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 Β₯3,138
$452 Β₯3,124
0.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K Β₯141.6K
$22.6K Β₯156.5K
-9.47%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.31 Β₯334
$43.49 Β₯300
11.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67 Β₯212
$26.80 Β₯185
14.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 Β₯522
$84.4 Β₯583
-10.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Β₯538
$80.7 Β₯558
-3.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$755 Β₯5,220
$331 Β₯2,290
127.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 Β₯2,796
$250 Β₯1,724
62.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 Β₯11.5K
$873 Β₯6,030
90.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 Β₯6,238
$505 Β₯3,487
78.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.5K Β₯93.3K
$8,987 Β₯62.1K
50.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,851 Β₯40.4K
$5,187 Β₯35.8K
12.79%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Xiamen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,625 Β₯11.2K
$1,126 Β₯7,782
44.26%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Xiamen: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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