Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Yiwu Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Yiwu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,032 in Shenzhen versus $725 in Yiwu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,649 in Shenzhen versus $1,351 in Yiwu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,266 in Shenzhen versus $1,978 in Yiwu.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 42% more expensive than in Yiwu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.13

$2.72 ¥18.40

15.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.60 ¥187

$36.48 ¥246

-24.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 ¥32.92

$5.63 ¥38.06

-13.50%

Cappuccino

$3.32 ¥22.43

$3.56 ¥24.03

-6.74%

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

$0.48 ¥3.27

$0.53 ¥3.61

-9.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.32 ¥2.18

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ¥8.21

$1.42 ¥9.61

-14.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ¥18.73

$2.82 ¥19.06

-1.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ¥11.81

$1.86 ¥12.56

-5.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.31

$1.79 ¥12.06

10.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.96

$0.84 ¥5.71

40.48%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.94

$1.68 ¥11.35

14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.69 ¥85.8

$15.70 ¥106

-19.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ¥26.56

$3.19 ¥21.53

23.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 ¥90.4

$10.52 ¥71.1

27.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ¥12.61

$1.63 ¥10.99

14.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.89

$1.40 ¥9.48

4.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.27

$1.37 ¥9.27

32.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 ¥9.42

$1.09 ¥7.34

27.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.39

$0.54 ¥3.64

101.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ¥9.59

$0.80 ¥5.41

77.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 ¥5.04

$0.17 ¥1.12

341.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.84

$0.61 ¥4.11

-6.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.39 ¥22.91

$2.82 ¥19.07

20.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.61 ¥85.2

$11.99 ¥81.0

5.17%

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

$1.07 ¥7.23

77.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.97

$0.44 ¥2.96

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.23 ¥150

$16.76 ¥113

32.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ¥11.39

$1.08 ¥7.32

56.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.53

$0.23 ¥1.56

60.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 ¥45.58

$8.16 ¥55.2

-17.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥7.70

$1.09 ¥7.38

4.59%

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

$22.7K ¥153.4K

$19.4K ¥131.0K

17.09%

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

$20.7K ¥139.7K

$18.0K ¥121.8K

14.72%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$51.5 ¥348

26.90%

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

$8.39 ¥56.7

$8.53 ¥57.6

-1.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.08 ¥88.4

$13.73 ¥92.8

-4.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.9 ¥344

$14.15 ¥95.6

259.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.60 ¥119

$10.38 ¥70.2

69.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 ¥47.82

$6.73 ¥45.49

5.20%

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

$467 ¥3,154

$337 ¥2,277

38.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K ¥139.8K

$32.0K ¥216.3K

-35.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.53 ¥328

$55.3 ¥374

-12.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 ¥205

$34.48 ¥233

-12.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ¥505

$77.7 ¥525

-3.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 ¥536

$70.6 ¥477

12.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ¥4,945

$410 ¥2,771

78.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 ¥2,773

$185 ¥1,251

121.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,699 ¥11.5K

$988 ¥6,675

71.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$910 ¥6,148

$685 ¥4,631

32.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.9K ¥87.3K

$11.6K ¥78.2K

11.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,000 ¥40.5K

$2,900 ¥19.6K

106.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,720 ¥11.6K

$578 ¥3,908

197.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.58

12.85%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: July 14, 2026

Last update for Yiwu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $732 in Shenzhen and $410 in Yiwu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 197% 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 $36.00 in Yiwu. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $208, with Yiwu cheaper for home cooking.

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 Yiwu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yiwu wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yiwu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 197% 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 $410 in Yiwu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Yiwu runs roughly 33% 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 $337 in Yiwu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $725 in Yiwu versus $1,032 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yiwu but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Yiwu 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 Yiwu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.