Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Zhoushan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shenzhen and Zhoushan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,037 in Shenzhen versus $671 in Zhoushan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Shenzhen versus $1,061 in Zhoushan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,280 in Shenzhen versus $1,451 in Zhoushan.

Living in Shenzhen is roughly 55% more expensive than Zhoushan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shenzhen 23% lower, Zhoushan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 ¥21.16

$3.10 ¥20.96

0.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.51 ¥186

$17.11 ¥116

60.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 ¥34.22

$4.80 ¥32.47

5.42%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥22.50

$2.83 ¥19.15

17.67%

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

$0.48 ¥3.25

$0.43 ¥2.94

11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ¥1.89

$0.29 ¥1.97

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 ¥8.28

$0.88 ¥5.98

38.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ¥19.12

$1.42 ¥9.63

99.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ¥11.71

$2.15 ¥14.53

-19.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.34

$2.38 ¥16.07

-17.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.34

$0.86 ¥5.83

43.02%

Eggs

$1.94 ¥13.09

$0.99 ¥6.68

95.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 ¥86.3

$20.97 ¥142

-39.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ¥27.41

$3.74 ¥25.29

8.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ¥91.1

$7.96 ¥53.8

69.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ¥12.68

$1.41 ¥9.55

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 ¥9.53

$1.12 ¥7.61

25.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.31

$1.41 ¥9.54

29.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ¥9.08

$1.08 ¥7.32

24.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.09

$0.54 ¥3.65

94.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.90

$0.81 ¥5.49

80.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ¥4.78

$0.61 ¥4.10

16.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.82

$0.48 ¥3.22

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ¥22.86

$4.27 ¥28.86

-20.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.92 ¥87.4

$11.16 ¥75.4

15.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.38

$0.94 ¥6.37

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.64

$2.70 ¥18.23

-30.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.72

$0.27 ¥1.82

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.76 ¥147

$16.65 ¥113

30.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 ¥11.01

$1.58 ¥10.65

3.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.35

$0.35 ¥2.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 ¥47.44

$8.34 ¥56.4

-15.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥7.98

$1.09 ¥7.39

8.26%

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

$22.9K ¥154.8K

$21.1K ¥142.9K

8.31%

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

$20.7K ¥140.2K

$15.2K ¥102.6K

36.61%

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

$65.3 ¥442

$45.78 ¥310

42.70%

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

$8.20 ¥55.5

$14.90 ¥101

-44.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ¥88.2

$11.26 ¥76.2

15.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ¥340

$22.83 ¥154

120.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.39 ¥118

$6.79 ¥45.93

156.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.86 ¥46.41

$6.42 ¥43.38

6.85%

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

$457 ¥3,089

$744 ¥5,029

-38.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K ¥141.0K

$16.7K ¥113.2K

24.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 ¥333

$53.7 ¥363

-8.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.67 ¥207

$35.42 ¥240

-13.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 ¥502

$70.2 ¥475

5.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ¥542

$91.4 ¥618

-12.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥4,981

$308 ¥2,084

139.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥2,780

$112 ¥760

265.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,692 ¥11.4K

$700 ¥4,731

141.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 ¥6,106

$254 ¥1,716

255.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.1K ¥88.9K

$2,961 ¥20.0K

343.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,222 ¥42.1K

$1,990 ¥13.5K

212.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ¥11.3K

$602 ¥4,068

176.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

3.86

4.66%

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

Last update for Shenzhen: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zhoushan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Shenzhen and $308 in Zhoushan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenzhen pays 177% 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 Zhoushan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $227 per month, with Zhoushan 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 Zhoushan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zhoushan wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zhoushan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shenzhen pays 177% 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 $308 in Zhoushan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Zhoushan runs roughly 31% 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 $744 in Zhoushan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $671 in Zhoushan versus $1,037 in Shenzhen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhoushan but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Zhoushan 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 Zhoushan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.