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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $638 in Zhongshan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,007 in Zhongshan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,376 in Zhongshan.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 63% more expensive than Zhongshan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Zhongshan 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.19

$2.76 ¥18.66

13.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$16.90 ¥114

62.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.28

$4.09 ¥27.71

23.72%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.53

$2.73 ¥18.48

21.98%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.41 ¥2.77

17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.27 ¥1.82

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.29

$0.72 ¥4.91

69.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.15

$1.72 ¥11.64

64.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.73

$1.82 ¥12.32

-4.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.36

$1.78 ¥12.06

10.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.35

$0.90 ¥6.12

36.67%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.11

$1.56 ¥10.60

24.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.4

$12.82 ¥86.8

-0.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.45

$2.71 ¥18.32

49.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.2

$12.55 ¥85.0

7.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$1.87 ¥12.66

0.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.54

$0.93 ¥6.30

51.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.33

$0.62 ¥4.18

193.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.09

$1.34 ¥9.06

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.10

$0.53 ¥3.59

98.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.92

$0.71 ¥4.83

105.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.40 ¥2.68

77.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.51 ¥3.45

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.90

$2.71 ¥18.34

24.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.5

$13.12 ¥88.9

-1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.39

$0.60 ¥4.09

56.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.66

$1.83 ¥12.36

2.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.29 ¥1.98

37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$13.73 ¥93.0

58.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.03

$1.26 ¥8.54

29.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.36

$0.38 ¥2.55

-7.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.52

$6.74 ¥45.65

4.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.99

$1.17 ¥7.90

0.85%

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

$22.9K ¥155.0K

$22.7K ¥153.7K

0.90%

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

$20.7K ¥140.4K

$20.4K ¥138.4K

1.49%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$38.52 ¥261

69.60%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$8.47 ¥57.4

-3.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.4

$11.90 ¥80.6

9.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$63.5 ¥430

-20.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$7.12 ¥48.22

144.24%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.49

$5.41 ¥36.65

26.80%

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

$457 ¥3,094

$296 ¥2,005

54.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.2K

$12.7K ¥86.1K

64.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥334

$44.75 ¥303

10.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥208

$31.02 ¥210

-1.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥503

$55.1 ¥373

34.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥543

$70.1 ¥475

14.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,990

$197 ¥1,332

274.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,785

$117 ¥793

251.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.5K

$343 ¥2,320

393.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,116

$196 ¥1,327

360.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥89.0K

$2,454 ¥16.6K

435.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$1,479 ¥10.0K

320.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$964 ¥6,527

72.81%

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 Zhongshan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $197 in Zhongshan. 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 $17.00 in Zhongshan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $203 per month, with Zhongshan 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 Zhongshan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zhongshan wins on cost – living expenses run 63% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zhongshan 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 $197 in Zhongshan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Zhongshan runs roughly 58% 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 $296 in Zhongshan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $638 in Zhongshan versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zhongshan but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Zhongshan 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 Zhongshan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.