Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Zhenjiang Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Zhenjiang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $589 in Zhenjiang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,000 in Zhenjiang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,410 in Zhenjiang.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 76% more expensive than Zhenjiang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Zhenjiang 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.16

$2.85 ¥19.28

9.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$26.62 ¥180

3.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.22

$4.98 ¥33.68

1.61%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.50

$2.11 ¥14.26

57.82%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.29 ¥1.96

65.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.22 ¥1.49

27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.28

$1.07 ¥7.21

14.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.12

$1.71 ¥11.56

65.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.71

$1.71 ¥11.54

1.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.34

$1.37 ¥9.25

43.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.34

$0.81 ¥5.51

51.85%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.09

$1.78 ¥12.03

8.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.3

$5.43 ¥36.74

134.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.41

$2.69 ¥18.18

50.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.1

$9.83 ¥66.5

37.03%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.68

$1.64 ¥11.06

14.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.53

$1.65 ¥11.18

-14.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.31

$1.64 ¥11.06

10.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.08

$1.26 ¥8.54

6.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.09

$0.76 ¥5.16

38.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.90

$0.98 ¥6.65

48.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.43 ¥2.94

65.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.82

$0.27 ¥1.83

111.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.86

$4.22 ¥28.52

-19.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.4

$11.78 ¥79.6

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.38

$0.75 ¥5.10

25.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.64

$1.42 ¥9.63

31.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.27 ¥1.81

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$6.99 ¥47.27

211.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.01

$1.26 ¥8.54

29.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.35

$0.40 ¥2.70

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.44

$4.25 ¥28.71

65.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.98

$1.17 ¥7.90

0.85%

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

$22.9K ¥154.8K

$17.0K ¥115.1K

34.48%

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

$20.7K ¥140.2K

$17.0K ¥114.7K

22.16%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$44.52 ¥301

46.74%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$11.32 ¥76.5

-27.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.2

$11.91 ¥80.5

9.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$42.06 ¥284

19.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$27.47 ¥186

-36.69%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.41

$6.10 ¥41.23

12.46%

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

$457 ¥3,089

$411 ¥2,782

11.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.0K

$17.0K ¥114.9K

22.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥333

$42.42 ¥287

16.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥207

$27.78 ¥188

10.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥502

$41.16 ¥278

80.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥542

$41.95 ¥284

91.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,981

$211 ¥1,426

249.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,780

$138 ¥930

198.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.4K

$480 ¥3,246

252.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,106

$347 ¥2,343

160.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.9K

$2,003 ¥13.5K

556.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$876 ¥5,922

610.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$962 ¥6,506

73.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.83

5.48%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zhenjiang: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $211 in Zhenjiang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 73% 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 Zhenjiang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $171 per month, with Zhenjiang 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 Zhenjiang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zhenjiang wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zhenjiang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 73% 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 $211 in Zhenjiang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Zhenjiang runs roughly 211% 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 $411 in Zhenjiang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $589 in Zhenjiang versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhenjiang but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Zhenjiang 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 Zhenjiang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.