Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Yangshuo Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Yangshuo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $727 in Yangshuo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,140 in Yangshuo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,553 in Yangshuo.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 43% more expensive than Yangshuo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.17

$2.71 ¥18.34

15.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$21.97 ¥149

25.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.24

$4.80 ¥32.50

5.42%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.51

$3.04 ¥20.56

9.54%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.43 ¥2.93

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.27 ¥1.80

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.28

$0.88 ¥5.98

38.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.13

$2.05 ¥13.89

38.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.71

$1.85 ¥12.52

-6.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.35

$1.55 ¥10.49

27.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.34

$0.89 ¥6.03

38.20%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.09

$1.59 ¥10.79

22.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.3

$12.80 ¥86.6

-0.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.42

$3.14 ¥21.22

28.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.1

$10.37 ¥70.1

29.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.69

$1.80 ¥12.15

4.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.53

$1.20 ¥8.10

17.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.32

$1.50 ¥10.13

21.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.08

$1.14 ¥7.70

17.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.09

$0.69 ¥4.69

52.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.91

$0.91 ¥6.13

60.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.57 ¥3.84

24.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.82

$0.55 ¥3.70

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.87

$3.22 ¥21.77

4.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.4

$10.35 ¥70.0

24.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.38

$0.76 ¥5.11

23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.65

$1.61 ¥10.88

16.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.29 ¥1.96

37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$16.90 ¥114

28.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.02

$1.40 ¥9.48

16.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.33 ¥2.20

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.47

$6.67 ¥45.09

5.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.98

$1.12 ¥7.61

5.36%

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

$22.9K ¥154.8K

$19.1K ¥129.4K

19.71%

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

$20.7K ¥140.2K

$17.3K ¥117.3K

19.61%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$45.32 ¥307

44.15%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$10.01 ¥67.7

-18.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.3

$11.67 ¥78.9

11.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$41.80 ¥283

20.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$14.06 ¥95.1

23.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.44

$6.05 ¥40.96

13.39%

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

$457 ¥3,090

$328 ¥2,221

39.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.0K

$16.9K ¥114.4K

23.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥333

$44.61 ¥302

10.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥207

$30.38 ¥206

0.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥502

$70.6 ¥478

5.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥542

$72.0 ¥487

11.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,984

$280 ¥1,893

163.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,782

$193 ¥1,304

113.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.4K

$593 ¥4,010

185.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,109

$363 ¥2,457

148.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.9K

$2,989 ¥20.2K

339.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$2,023 ¥13.7K

207.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.89

3.86%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yangshuo: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $280 in Yangshuo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Shenzhen vs $22.00 in Yangshuo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $197 per month, with Yangshuo 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 Yangshuo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yangshuo wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yangshuo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,556 in Shenzhen and $1,091 in Yangshuo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Shenzhen versus $280 in Yangshuo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Yangshuo runs roughly 29% 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 $328 in Yangshuo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $727 in Yangshuo versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Yangshuo but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Yangshuo 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.

Safety-wise, Shenzhen and Yangshuo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Yangshuo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.