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: $1,139 in Shenzhen versus $689 in Zhongshan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,731 in Shenzhen versus $1,093 in Zhongshan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,322 in Shenzhen versus $1,497 in Zhongshan.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 65% more expensive than in Zhongshan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 17% lower, Zhongshan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.02 ¥26.92

$2.94 ¥19.73

36.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.93 ¥201

$23.60 ¥158

26.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ¥35.38

$4.55 ¥30.50

16.04%

Cappuccino

$3.36 ¥22.49

$2.95 ¥19.79

13.90%

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

$0.54 ¥3.64

$0.44 ¥2.92

22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.39

$0.29 ¥1.93

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 ¥9.77

$0.77 ¥5.15

89.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ¥15.09

$1.82 ¥12.17

23.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 ¥10.92

$1.57 ¥10.52

3.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.00

$1.70 ¥11.37

5.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.88

$0.70 ¥4.69

68.57%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.32

$1.19 ¥7.97

42.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.03 ¥148

$22.28 ¥149

-1.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ¥24.23

$2.80 ¥18.73

29.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.16 ¥94.9

$13.44 ¥90.1

5.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 ¥14.65

$2.07 ¥13.86

5.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ¥10.39

$1.06 ¥7.07

46.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ¥12.69

$0.70 ¥4.70

170.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.89

$1.40 ¥9.40

5.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ¥7.94

$0.57 ¥3.83

107.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.28

$0.71 ¥4.76

115.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ¥3.63

$0.42 ¥2.83

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ¥3.89

$0.53 ¥3.56

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 ¥30.40

$2.89 ¥19.34

57.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.65 ¥84.8

$12.59 ¥84.4

0.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ¥6.08

$0.68 ¥4.59

33.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ¥12.38

$1.84 ¥12.34

0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 ¥4.12

$0.31 ¥2.08

96.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.16 ¥148

$14.59 ¥97.8

51.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ¥9.88

$1.51 ¥10.12

-2.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 ¥2.68

$0.41 ¥2.73

-2.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.25 ¥48.62

$7.17 ¥48.03

1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥8.36

$1.20 ¥8.03

4.17%

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

$19.1K ¥127.8K

$19.7K ¥131.9K

-3.15%

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

$18.1K ¥121.5K

$18.0K ¥120.7K

0.70%

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

$61.6 ¥413

$40.98 ¥275

50.22%

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

$9.91 ¥66.4

$9.96 ¥66.7

-0.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.09 ¥101

$12.77 ¥85.6

18.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.53 ¥332

$66.8 ¥448

-25.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.99 ¥114

$7.29 ¥48.86

133.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.35 ¥49.27

$6.06 ¥40.58

21.29%

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

$525 ¥3,516

$314 ¥2,106

66.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K ¥161.1K

$13.5K ¥90.6K

77.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.95 ¥335

$47.55 ¥319

5.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 ¥270

$39.80 ¥267

1.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 ¥464

$59.1 ¥396

17.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.2 ¥578

$74.6 ¥500

15.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 ¥5,144

$209 ¥1,397

268.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 ¥3,125

$125 ¥839

272.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 ¥12.2K

$377 ¥2,525

382.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$855 ¥5,732

$209 ¥1,403

308.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.4K ¥90.0K

$2,486 ¥16.7K

440.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,284 ¥42.1K

$1,495 ¥10.0K

320.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,688 ¥11.3K

$964 ¥6,463

75.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

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

Last update for Shenzhen: August 31, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $768 in Shenzhen and $209 in Zhongshan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 75% 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 $24.00 in Zhongshan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $231 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 65% 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.

Average pay runs 75% 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 $209 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 52% 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 $314 in Zhongshan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $689 in Zhongshan versus $1,139 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 65% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.