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Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Zhongshan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Zhongshan

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 30% more expensive than Zhongshan without rent, and 60.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Shenzhen is 10.2% more expensive than Zhongshan without rent, and 74% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.27 ยฅ22.83
$2.87 ยฅ20.04
13.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.04 ยฅ196
$16.61 ยฅ116
68.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 ยฅ35.45
$4.19 ยฅ29.31
21.00%
Cappuccino
$3.18 ยฅ22.22
$2.72 ยฅ18.98
16.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ยฅ3.60
$0.40 ยฅ2.80
27.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ยฅ1.96
$0.29 ยฅ2.05
-3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 ยฅ8.87
$0.69 ยฅ4.80
84.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ยฅ19.21
$1.72 ยฅ12.02
59.88%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ยฅ12.53
$1.80 ยฅ12.55
-0.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 ยฅ14.30
$1.71 ยฅ11.95
19.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 ยฅ8.58
$0.90 ยฅ6.32
36.67%
Eggs
$1.84 ยฅ12.87
$1.55 ยฅ10.85
18.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.95 ยฅ90.5
$12.91 ยฅ90.3
0.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.07 ยฅ28.43
$2.57 ยฅ17.97
58.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.38 ยฅ93.5
$12.73 ยฅ89.0
5.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ยฅ12.65
$1.86 ยฅ13.03
-2.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 ยฅ9.88
$0.99 ยฅ6.91
42.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 ยฅ12.20
$0.65 ยฅ4.52
167.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.34 ยฅ9.39
$1.32 ยฅ9.20
1.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 ยฅ7.36
$0.53 ยฅ3.73
98.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ยฅ9.89
$0.72 ยฅ5.01
97.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 ยฅ5.23
$0.37 ยฅ2.58
102.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ยฅ3.98
$0.51 ยฅ3.57
11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ยฅ24.06
$2.83 ยฅ19.77
21.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.46 ยฅ94.1
$13.51 ยฅ94.4
-0.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ยฅ6.61
$0.66 ยฅ4.61
43.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ยฅ12.90
$1.93 ยฅ13.47
-4.15%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ยฅ3.07
$0.29 ยฅ2.05
51.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.17 ยฅ155
$14.04 ยฅ98.1
57.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 ยฅ11.39
$1.27 ยฅ8.85
28.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 ยฅ2.39
$0.34 ยฅ2.40
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.91 ยฅ48.28
$6.67 ยฅ46.64
3.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ยฅ8.27
$1.13 ยฅ7.88
4.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K ยฅ162.8K
$22.9K ยฅ160.0K
1.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K ยฅ144.7K
$20.5K ยฅ143.4K
0.91%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.2 ยฅ470
$37.74 ยฅ264
78.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.23 ยฅ57.5
$8.38 ยฅ58.6
-1.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.94 ยฅ90.4
$12.09 ยฅ84.5
7.03%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.27 ยฅ344
$63.6 ยฅ444
-22.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.48 ยฅ122
$7.05 ยฅ49.29
147.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 ยฅ48.27
$5.72 ยฅ39.98
20.80%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 ยฅ3,231
$302 ยฅ2,113
52.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K ยฅ146.1K
$12.6K ยฅ88.0K
66.03%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.87 ยฅ342
$43.91 ยฅ307
11.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.17 ยฅ211
$30.37 ยฅ212
-0.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ยฅ538
$55.2 ยฅ386
39.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5 ยฅ563
$68.4 ยฅ478
17.65%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 ยฅ5,186
$194 ยฅ1,353
283.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ยฅ2,839
$118 ยฅ822
245.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,654 ยฅ11.6K
$353 ยฅ2,468
368.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$901 ยฅ6,301
$203 ยฅ1,418
344.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.5K ยฅ94.0K
$2,370 ยฅ16.6K
467.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,966 ยฅ41.7K
$1,448 ยฅ10.1K
312.08%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 ยฅ11.1K
$800 ยฅ5,591
98.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
3.83
5.48%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shenzhen: January 13, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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