🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $782 in Xiamen versus $1,006 in Shenzhen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,265 in Xiamen versus $1,658 in Shenzhen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,748 in Xiamen versus $2,311 in Shenzhen.
🙂Living in Xiamen costs roughly 22% less than in Shenzhen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Xiamen42% lower, Shenzhen25% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73¥18.73
$3.28¥22.48
-16.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.25¥159
$28.26¥194
-17.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.43¥37.21
$5.14¥35.19
5.64%
Cappuccino
$2.84¥19.44
$3.22¥22.06
-11.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50¥3.43
$0.52¥3.53
-3.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.28¥1.91
3.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37¥9.40
$1.28¥8.74
7.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38¥23.16
$2.80¥19.21
20.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79¥12.24
$1.75¥11.98
2.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.06¥14.14
$1.95¥13.38
5.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80¥5.50
$1.24¥8.50
-35.48%
Eggs
$1.40¥9.56
$1.87¥12.78
-25.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.99¥75.3
$12.87¥88.2
-14.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.35¥16.11
$3.97¥27.20
-40.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.05¥75.7
$13.75¥94.2
-19.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35¥16.07
$1.86¥12.74
26.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32¥9.06
$1.46¥10.03
-9.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52¥10.41
$1.75¥11.97
-13.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84¥12.57
$1.40¥9.61
31.43%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91¥6.21
$1.06¥7.28
-14.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72¥11.76
$1.41¥9.63
21.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88¥6.02
$0.75¥5.17
17.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.76
$0.56¥3.87
-1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73¥18.69
$3.44¥23.54
-20.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.95¥75.0
$14.25¥97.6
-23.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78¥5.35
$0.93¥6.38
-16.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65¥11.29
$1.93¥13.24
-14.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20¥1.37
$0.44¥2.99
-54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.13¥76.2
$22.51¥154
-50.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37¥9.42
$1.63¥11.13
-15.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26¥1.78
$0.38¥2.59
-31.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.80¥46.55
$6.81¥46.63
-0.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥8.04
$1.16¥7.96
0.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K¥114.8K
$23.4K¥160.5K
-28.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.2K¥118.1K
$20.1K¥137.5K
-14.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.51¥271
$67.6¥463
-41.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.98¥68.4
$8.39¥57.4
18.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.64¥66.1
$13.11¥89.8
-26.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.58¥299
$49.79¥341
-12.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.87¥67.6
$17.43¥119
-43.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52¥65.2
$7.09¥48.56
34.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453¥3,104
$464¥3,179
-2.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.7K¥155.3K
$20.8K¥142.3K
9.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.65¥299
$49.32¥338
-11.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.95¥185
$29.89¥205
-9.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.4¥585
$74.6¥511
14.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9¥547
$79.7¥546
0.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$328¥2,249
$726¥4,974
-54.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252¥1,729
$410¥2,806
-38.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849¥5,814
$1,673¥11.5K
-49.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$514¥3,518
$903¥6,185
-43.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,027¥61.8K
$13.1K¥89.5K
-30.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,094¥34.9K
$6,063¥41.5K
-15.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xiamen
Shenzhen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,134¥7,764
$1,687¥11.6K
-32.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.56
4.04
-11.88%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Xiamen: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Shenzhen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $328 in Xiamen and $726 in Shenzhen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shenzhen pays 49% 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: $23.00 in Xiamen vs $28.00 in Shenzhen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $234 per month, with Xiamen cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Xiamen vs Shenzhen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Xiamen or Shenzhen?
Xiamen wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Shenzhen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Xiamen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Xiamen or Shenzhen?
On paper, Shenzhen earns 49% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Xiamen vs Shenzhen?
Rent for a central apartment: $328 in Xiamen versus $726 in Shenzhen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Xiamen vs Shenzhen?
A monthly transit pass in Xiamen runs roughly 102% less than in Shenzhen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Xiamen and Shenzhen?
Childcare runs $453 in Xiamen versus $464 in Shenzhen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Xiamen or Shenzhen?
At $782 in Xiamen versus $1,006 in Shenzhen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Xiamen but tight or insufficient in Shenzhen. The gap between the two cities makes Xiamen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Xiamen or Shenzhen?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Xiamen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Shenzhen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.