🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $671 in Zhoushan versus $1,505 in Mayaguez.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,061 in Zhoushan versus $2,221 in Mayaguez.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,451 in Zhoushan versus $2,936 in Mayaguez.
🙂Living in Zhoushan costs roughly 55% less than in Mayaguez, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zhoushan is 50% below, Mayaguez is 12% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.10¥20.96
$12.83$12.83
-75.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.11¥116
$60.9$60.9
-71.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.80¥32.47
$9.09$9.09
-47.19%
Cappuccino
$2.83¥19.15
$3.55$3.55
-20.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.94
$1.35$1.35
-68.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.97
$1.29$1.29
-77.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.88¥5.98
$3.06$3.06
-71.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42¥9.63
$3.92$3.92
-63.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15¥14.53
$1.63$1.63
31.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38¥16.07
$2.35$2.35
1.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86¥5.83
$2.18$2.18
-60.55%
Eggs
$0.99¥6.68
$2.88$2.88
-65.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.97¥142
$8.84$8.84
137.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.74¥25.29
$8.58$8.58
-56.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.96¥53.8
$9.04$9.04
-11.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.41¥9.55
$5.26$5.26
-73.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12¥7.61
$2.69$2.69
-58.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41¥9.54
$1.23$1.23
14.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08¥7.32
$4.09$4.09
-73.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54¥3.65
$1.67$1.67
-67.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81¥5.49
$1.08$1.08
-25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61¥4.10
$2.28$2.28
-73.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.22
$1.92$1.92
-75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27¥28.86
$9.83$9.83
-56.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.16¥75.4
$15.29$15.29
-27.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94¥6.37
$2.50$2.50
-62.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70¥18.23
$3.24$3.24
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.82
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.65¥113
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.58¥10.65
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.37
$1.54$1.54
-77.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.34¥56.4
$14.98$14.98
-44.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09¥7.39
$1.02$1.02
6.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K¥142.9K
$30.2K$30.2K
-30.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.2K¥102.6K
$24.5K$24.5K
-38.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.78¥310
$278$278
-83.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90¥101
$78.6$78.6
-81.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.26¥76.2
$64.5$64.5
-82.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.83¥154
$36.10$36.10
-36.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79¥45.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.42¥43.38
$7.89$7.89
-18.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$744¥5,029
$473$473
57.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K¥113.2K
$10.3K$10.3K
62.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7¥363
$45.04$45.04
19.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.42¥240
$55.8$55.8
-36.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.2¥475
$65.9$65.9
6.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4¥618
$69.4$69.4
31.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$308¥2,084
$600$600
-48.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$112¥760
$403$403
-72.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$700¥4,731
$1,774$1,774
-60.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$254¥1,716
$615$615
-58.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,961¥20.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,990¥13.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhoushan
Mayaguez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$602¥4,068
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.86
3.25
18.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zhoushan: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mayaguez: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $308 in Zhoushan and $600 in Mayaguez. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Zhoushan vs $61.0 in Mayaguez for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $313 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
Zhoushan vs Mayaguez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mayaguez cheaper than Zhoushan?
Zhoushan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 124% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,006 in Zhoushan and $2,258 in Mayaguez to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Zhoushan and Mayaguez?
Rent for a central apartment: $308 in Zhoushan versus $600 in Mayaguez. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $744 in Zhoushan versus $473 in Mayaguez. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Zhoushan or Mayaguez?
Dining out is cheaper in Zhoushan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $61.0 in Mayaguez. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Zhoushan or Mayaguez?
At $671 in Zhoushan versus $1,505 in Mayaguez, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhoushan but tight or insufficient in Mayaguez. The gap between the two cities makes Zhoushan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Zhoushan or Mayaguez?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Zhoushan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Mayaguez. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.