Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Zhangjiakou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Zhangjiakou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $736 in Zhangjiakou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,166 in Zhangjiakou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,597 in Zhangjiakou.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 41% more expensive than Zhangjiakou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Zhangjiakou 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.22

$2.05 ¥13.91

52.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥187

$27.35 ¥186

0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.33

$5.68 ¥38.51

-10.92%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.57

$3.16 ¥21.47

5.38%

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

$0.48 ¥3.26

$0.47 ¥3.17

2.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.29 ¥1.98

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.30

$0.81 ¥5.52

50.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.18

$1.94 ¥13.13

45.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.74

$1.65 ¥11.22

4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.38

$1.78 ¥12.06

10.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.37

$0.95 ¥6.46

29.47%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.13

$0.94 ¥6.37

106.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.5

$14.13 ¥95.8

-9.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.49

$2.73 ¥18.48

48.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.3

$9.47 ¥64.3

42.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.72

$1.22 ¥8.28

54.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.56

$0.88 ¥5.95

60.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.35

$1.37 ¥9.27

32.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.11

$1.08 ¥7.34

24.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.11

$0.79 ¥5.36

32.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.93

$0.58 ¥3.90

151.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.79

$0.53 ¥3.61

33.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.83 ¥5.64

-31.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.93

$3.49 ¥23.69

-3.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.6

$13.41 ¥91.0

-3.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.40

$1.20 ¥8.17

-21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.68

$2.37 ¥16.06

-21.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.73

$0.27 ¥1.82

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥148

$16.55 ¥112

31.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.05

$0.93 ¥6.29

75.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.30 ¥2.07

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.59

$6.41 ¥43.50

9.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥8.00

$1.10 ¥7.44

7.27%

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

$22.9K ¥155.3K

$16.5K ¥111.8K

38.82%

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

$20.7K ¥140.6K

$19.5K ¥132.5K

6.16%

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

$65.3 ¥443

$86.8 ¥588

-24.69%

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

$8.20 ¥55.6

$6.99 ¥47.42

17.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.5

$6.80 ¥46.12

91.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥341

$41.41 ¥281

21.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$14.16 ¥96.0

22.81%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.56

$6.30 ¥42.72

8.89%

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

$457 ¥3,098

$316 ¥2,141

44.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.4K

$4,972 ¥33.7K

319.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥334

$39.82 ¥270

23.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥208

$29.45 ¥200

4.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥503

$76.7 ¥520

-3.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥544

$55.3 ¥375

45.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,997

$277 ¥1,881

165.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,789

$186 ¥1,260

121.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.5K

$585 ¥3,968

189.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,125

$362 ¥2,458

149.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.1K

$3,100 ¥21.0K

323.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.2K

$1,792 ¥12.2K

247.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$379 ¥2,569

339.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

4.35

-7.13%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zhangjiakou: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $277 in Zhangjiakou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 340% 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 $27.00 in Zhangjiakou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $202 per month, with Zhangjiakou 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 Zhangjiakou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zhangjiakou wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zhangjiakou the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 340% 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 $277 in Zhangjiakou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Zhangjiakou 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 $316 in Zhangjiakou. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $736 in Zhangjiakou versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zhangjiakou but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Zhangjiakou 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 Zhangjiakou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.