Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Yulin Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Yulin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $703 in Yulin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,120 in Yulin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,537 in Yulin.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 48% more expensive than Yulin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Yulin 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.22

$2.82 ¥19.11

10.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥187

$20.79 ¥141

32.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.33

$4.97 ¥33.73

1.81%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.57

$3.03 ¥20.52

9.90%

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

$0.48 ¥3.26

$0.46 ¥3.12

4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.29 ¥1.99

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.30

$0.93 ¥6.30

31.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.18

$2.11 ¥14.28

34.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.74

$1.80 ¥12.19

-3.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.38

$1.54 ¥10.44

27.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.37

$0.96 ¥6.50

28.13%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.13

$1.64 ¥11.11

18.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.5

$13.09 ¥88.8

-2.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.49

$3.16 ¥21.46

28.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.3

$10.26 ¥69.6

31.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.72

$1.81 ¥12.30

3.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.56

$1.26 ¥8.54

11.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.35

$1.42 ¥9.63

28.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.11

$1.09 ¥7.36

22.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.11

$0.73 ¥4.94

43.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.93

$0.98 ¥6.68

48.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.79

$0.60 ¥4.09

18.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.55 ¥3.71

3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.93

$3.14 ¥21.33

7.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.6

$11.22 ¥76.1

15.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.40

$0.79 ¥5.37

18.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.68

$1.65 ¥11.17

13.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.73

$0.27 ¥1.82

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥148

$16.61 ¥113

31.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.05

$1.41 ¥9.60

15.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.36 ¥2.41

-2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.59

$6.52 ¥44.24

7.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥8.00

$1.17 ¥7.92

0.85%

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

$22.9K ¥155.3K

$19.4K ¥131.6K

18.01%

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

$20.7K ¥140.6K

$16.6K ¥112.4K

25.15%

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

$65.3 ¥443

$44.91 ¥305

45.47%

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

$8.20 ¥55.6

$9.54 ¥64.7

-14.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.5

$11.62 ¥78.8

12.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥341

$41.85 ¥284

20.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$13.80 ¥93.6

26.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.56

$6.33 ¥42.95

8.37%

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

$457 ¥3,098

$332 ¥2,252

37.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.4K

$17.0K ¥115.2K

22.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥334

$42.82 ¥290

15.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥208

$30.00 ¥203

2.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥503

$71.5 ¥485

3.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥544

$74.6 ¥506

7.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,997

$282 ¥1,911

161.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,789

$191 ¥1,294

115.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.5K

$601 ¥4,079

181.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,125

$354 ¥2,398

155.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.1K

$3,190 ¥21.6K

311.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.2K

$1,769 ¥12.0K

251.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$602 ¥4,080

176.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.87

4.39%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yulin: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $282 in Yulin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 177% 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 $21.00 in Yulin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $200 per month, with Yulin 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 Yulin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yulin wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yulin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 177% 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 $282 in Yulin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Yulin runs roughly 31% 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 $332 in Yulin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $703 in Yulin versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yulin but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Yulin 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 Yulin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.