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

😐 Solo nomad: Shenzhen is 33.1% more expensive than Zhongshan without rent, and 56.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shenzhen is 21% more expensive than Zhongshan without rent, and 71% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.18 ¥21.99
$2.84 ¥19.66
11.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.99 ¥193
$16.53 ¥114
69.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 ¥34.93
$4.15 ¥28.67
21.69%
Cappuccino
$3.33 ¥22.98
$2.76 ¥19.09
20.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ¥3.38
$0.40 ¥2.79
22.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ¥2.07
$0.27 ¥1.85
11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.28 ¥8.87
$0.68 ¥4.68
88.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 ¥19.45
$1.69 ¥11.70
66.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ¥12.51
$1.81 ¥12.51
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 ¥14.02
$1.73 ¥11.95
17.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.44
$0.97 ¥6.68
25.77%
Eggs
$1.86 ¥12.86
$1.59 ¥10.97
16.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 ¥89.7
$12.71 ¥87.9
2.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 ¥27.95
$2.69 ¥18.56
50.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.37 ¥92.4
$12.29 ¥84.9
8.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ¥12.54
$1.86 ¥12.87
-2.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.04
$1.01 ¥6.99
43.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ¥12.34
$0.64 ¥4.42
179.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 ¥9.32
$1.39 ¥9.60
-2.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.32
$0.50 ¥3.47
112.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 ¥9.85
$0.69 ¥4.76
107.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ¥4.81
$0.36 ¥2.50
94.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.18
$0.48 ¥3.30
27.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.58 ¥24.75
$2.77 ¥19.13
29.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ¥92.7
$13.67 ¥94.5
-1.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ¥6.07
$0.65 ¥4.50
35.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ¥13.21
$1.91 ¥13.17
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ¥2.79
$0.29 ¥2.01
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.87 ¥151
$14.20 ¥98.1
54.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.64 ¥11.34
$1.24 ¥8.55
32.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.41
$0.37 ¥2.58
-5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.88 ¥47.56
$6.83 ¥47.21
0.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ¥8.07
$1.14 ¥7.85
2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K ¥159.3K
$23.3K ¥160.9K
-0.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K ¥143.2K
$20.5K ¥141.9K
0.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.6 ¥453
$38.55 ¥266
70.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.30 ¥57.3
$8.47 ¥58.5
-2.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.03 ¥90.0
$11.97 ¥82.7
8.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.30 ¥341
$62.0 ¥428
-20.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.51 ¥121
$6.85 ¥47.33
155.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07 ¥48.86
$5.46 ¥37.70
29.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 ¥3,138
$300 ¥2,072
51.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K ¥141.6K
$12.4K ¥85.6K
65.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.31 ¥334
$43.97 ¥304
9.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67 ¥212
$30.55 ¥211
0.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 ¥522
$56.7 ¥392
33.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 ¥538
$70.1 ¥484
11.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$755 ¥5,220
$199 ¥1,372
280.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 ¥2,796
$118 ¥812
244.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 ¥11.5K
$349 ¥2,410
376.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 ¥6,238
$198 ¥1,366
356.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.5K ¥93.3K
$2,403 ¥16.6K
461.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,851 ¥40.4K
$1,466 ¥10.1K
299.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenzhen
Zhongshan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,625 ¥11.2K
$824 ¥5,696
97.08%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: March 1, 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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