Cost of Living Comparison Between Xiamen and Shantou Cost of Living Comparison Between Xiamen and Shantou

🙂 Solo nomad: Xiamen is 10.3% cheaper than Shantou without rent, and 15.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Xiamen is 13.3% cheaper than Shantou without rent, and 18.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 ¥19.79
$2.03 ¥14.57
35.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.39 ¥168
$16.4 ¥118
42.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 ¥40.41
$4.89 ¥35.11
15.13%
Cappuccino
$2.75 ¥19.74
$3.12 ¥22.41
-11.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.62
$0.48 ¥3.41
6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.25
$0.3 ¥2.18
3.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.41 ¥10.12
$0.86 ¥6.18
63.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 ¥25.26
$2.57 ¥18.47
36.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 ¥13.37
$1.7 ¥12.18
9.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 ¥15.37
$1.41 ¥10.12
51.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.41
$0.68 ¥4.89
10.29%
Eggs
$1.35 ¥9.68
$1.86 ¥13.35
-27.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.04 ¥79.2
$12.55 ¥90
-12.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.36 ¥16.91
$3.78 ¥27.1
-37.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.06 ¥79.4
$11.95 ¥85.7
-7.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.45 ¥17.55
$1.85 ¥13.31
32.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 ¥9.88
$1.46 ¥10.49
-5.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 ¥11.17
$1.68 ¥12.07
-7.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.82 ¥13.09
$1.27 ¥9.11
43.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.9 ¥6.48
$0.76 ¥5.46
18.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 ¥12.28
$0.93 ¥6.67
83.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 ¥5.84
$0.67 ¥4.81
20.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.65
$0.4 ¥2.87
27.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77 ¥19.85
$3.41 ¥24.44
-18.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.51 ¥75.4
$11.46 ¥82.2
-8.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.72
$0.83 ¥5.94
-3.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ¥11.77
$1.9 ¥13.65
-13.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ¥1.58
$0.36 ¥2.59
-38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.1 ¥79.6
$22.16 ¥159
-49.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 ¥9.79
$1.51 ¥10.83
-9.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ¥2.03
$0.35 ¥2.51
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ¥47.44
$6.61 ¥47.39
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥8.1
$1.1 ¥7.89
2.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.3K ¥116.7K
$20.8K ¥149.3K
-21.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K ¥127.7K
$19.4K ¥139.4K
-8.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.45 ¥283
$54.4 ¥390
-27.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.96 ¥71.4
$8.14 ¥58.4
22.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.71 ¥69.7
$12.9 ¥92.6
-24.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.63 ¥313
$41.68 ¥299
4.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.98 ¥71.6
$14.17 ¥102
-29.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.6 ¥68.8
$6.86 ¥49.2
39.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$459 ¥3,292
$460 ¥3,303
-0.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K ¥163K
$20.8K ¥148.8K
9.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.43 ¥304
$48.35 ¥347
-12.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.41 ¥197
$30.35 ¥218
-9.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.5 ¥599
$76 ¥545
9.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.3 ¥569
$77.7 ¥557
2.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$335 ¥2,403
$283 ¥2,029
18.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$249 ¥1,784
$137 ¥982
81.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$844 ¥6,056
$548 ¥3,932
54.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 ¥3,646
$284 ¥2,038
78.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,753 ¥62.8K
$2,102 ¥15.1K
316.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,019 ¥36K
$3,210 ¥23K
56.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xiamen
Shantou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$847 ¥6,073
$994 ¥7,127
-14.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.56
4.04
-11.88%

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

Last update for Xiamen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Shantou: October 27, 2025

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