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: $1,139 in Shenzhen versus $707 in Zhenjiang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,731 in Shenzhen versus $1,194 in Zhenjiang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,322 in Shenzhen versus $1,681 in Zhenjiang.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 61% more expensive than in Zhenjiang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 17% lower, Zhenjiang 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 ¥26.92

$3.03 ¥20.29

32.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.93 ¥201

$29.72 ¥199

0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ¥35.38

$4.36 ¥29.25

21.10%

Cappuccino

$3.36 ¥22.49

$2.62 ¥17.55

28.24%

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

$0.54 ¥3.64

$0.56 ¥3.73

-3.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.39

$0.33 ¥2.23

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.77

$1.17 ¥7.86

24.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ¥15.09

$2.34 ¥15.68

-3.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.92

$1.83 ¥12.29

-10.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.00

$1.46 ¥9.75

22.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.88

$0.92 ¥6.18

28.26%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.32

$1.62 ¥10.87

4.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.03 ¥148

$14.37 ¥96.3

53.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ¥24.23

$2.92 ¥19.55

23.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 ¥94.9

$13.20 ¥88.5

7.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 ¥14.65

$1.80 ¥12.09

21.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ¥10.39

$1.80 ¥12.09

-13.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ¥12.69

$1.80 ¥12.10

5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.89

$1.73 ¥11.61

-14.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.94

$0.86 ¥5.78

37.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.28

$0.99 ¥6.61

54.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ¥3.63

$0.47 ¥3.12

14.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ¥3.89

$0.60 ¥4.05

-3.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 ¥30.40

$4.47 ¥29.96

1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 ¥84.8

$10.99 ¥73.6

15.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ¥6.08

$0.88 ¥5.92

3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥12.38

$1.56 ¥10.43

18.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 ¥4.12

$0.16 ¥1.06

281.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.16 ¥148

$7.35 ¥49.26

201.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ¥9.88

$1.51 ¥10.12

-2.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 ¥2.68

$0.47 ¥3.15

-14.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.25 ¥48.62

$4.50 ¥30.17

61.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥8.36

$1.24 ¥8.34

0.81%

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

$19.1K ¥127.8K

$17.8K ¥119.4K

7.04%

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

$18.1K ¥121.5K

0.05%

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

$61.6 ¥413

$63.0 ¥422

-2.22%

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

$9.91 ¥66.4

$8.50 ¥57.0

16.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.09 ¥101

$7.39 ¥49.51

104.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.53 ¥332

$43.75 ¥293

13.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 ¥114

$29.27 ¥196

-41.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.35 ¥49.27

$9.10 ¥61.0

-19.23%

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

$525 ¥3,516

$452 ¥3,028

16.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥161.1K

$27.2K ¥182.4K

-11.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.95 ¥335

$44.72 ¥300

11.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 ¥270

$29.83 ¥200

34.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ¥464

$66.4 ¥445

4.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.2 ¥578

$82.7 ¥554

4.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ¥5,144

$223 ¥1,492

244.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥3,125

$147 ¥983

217.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 ¥12.2K

$515 ¥3,451

252.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$855 ¥5,732

$366 ¥2,454

133.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K ¥90.0K

$1,995 ¥13.4K

573.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,284 ¥42.1K

$882 ¥5,913

612.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,688 ¥11.3K

$978 ¥6,554

72.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

3.35

1.49%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zhenjiang: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $768 in Shenzhen and $223 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: $30.00 in Shenzhen vs $30.00 in Zhenjiang. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $219, with Zhenjiang 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 Zhenjiang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zhenjiang wins on cost – living expenses run 61% 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.

Average pay runs 73% 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: $768 in Shenzhen versus $223 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 201% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $525 in Shenzhen versus $452 in Zhenjiang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $707 in Zhenjiang versus $1,139 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 61% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.