Cost of Living in Shenzhen

Summary of cost of living in Shenzhen, China:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 2.90 $ 2.07-4.14
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 27.58 $ 24.14-50.52
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 5.38 $ 4.83-5.52
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 1.10 $ 0.69-2.48
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 3.45 $ 2.07-5.52
Cappuccino (regular) 3.15 $ 1.80-4.14
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 0.48 $ 0.41-0.69
Water (12 oz small bottle) 0.31 $ 0.28-0.41
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 7.26 $ 5.22-10.44
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 1.73 $ 1.25-3.50
Rice (white), (1 lb) 0.53 $ 0.22-0.75
Eggs (regular) (12) 1.94 $ 1.32-2.48
Local Cheese (1 lb) 5.35 $ 2.50-12.51
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 2.13 $ 0.94-3.13
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 6.17 $ 3.13-7.51
Apples (1 lb) 0.89 $ 0.50-1.25
Banana (1 lb) 0.62 $ 0.38-0.94
Oranges (1 lb) 0.76 $ 0.38-1.25
Tomato (1 lb) 0.68 $ 0.38-1.25
Potato (1 lb) 0.47 $ 0.25-0.63
Onion (1 lb) 0.57 $ 0.31-0.88
Lettuce (1 head) 0.80 $ 0.28-1.38
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 0.61 $ 0.34-1.38
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 12.14 $ 6.90-27.58
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 0.91 $ 0.69-1.38
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 1.93 $ 1.10-2.76
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 3.79 $ 2.76-4.14
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 0.41 $ 0.28-0.69
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 23.17 $ 13.79-34.48
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 1.65 $ 1.38-1.93
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 0.58 $ 0.55-0.67
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 6.62 $ 6.62-8.27
Gasoline (1 gallon) 4.44 $ 4.18-4.66
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 20,687.37 $ 16,549.90-24,824.85
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 19,767.93 $ 16,549.90-27,583.16
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 69.25 $ 41.37-130.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 10.88 $ 4.83-17.65
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 13.67 $ 6.90-22.07
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 49.12 $ 20.69-114.93
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 18.34 $ 13.79-20.69
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 6.90 $ 5.52-10.76
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 504.16 $ 275.83-1,103.33
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 23,763.96 $ 13,791.58-34,478.95
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 61.49 $ 27.58-96.54
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 30.00 $ 20.55-41.37
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 76.72 $ 62.06-96.54
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 86.14 $ 41.37-137.92
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 752.27 $ 620.62-1,103.33
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 399.23 $ 275.83-551.66
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 1,658.75 $ 1,241.24-2,758.32
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 924.85 $ 689.58-1,379.16
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 1,165.31 $ 896.89-1,517.06
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 616.96 $ 448.44-884.08
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 1,700.85 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 4.40 3.40-5.00

Prices in Shenzhen

This city had 1474 entries in the past 12 months by 160 different contributors.
Last update: December 2024
Sources and References
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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9 Comments so far
JJ on Jun 26, 2024:
Hi, I was offered a teaching job in Nanshan and was wondering what the typical cost of living is for June 2024. I have a dog I’m bringing with me and I see that people are spending close to 5000 RMB per month. Is this still the estimate for a single person per month? Is it worth while to purchase an apartment for 13,000 RMB per month or should I do 5,000 RMB per month? What do you think is most cost effective but also provides the best comfort for someone with a medium sized dog?
Anonymous on Sep 15, 2023:
Hi, are there English medium public / private schools in Shenzhen. Thanks!
John on Sep 06, 2023:
The first time I came was 2018 at Guangzhou and I budgeted for 25 000 RMB but it ended on 50 000 RMB.
Shenzhen's rental cost a lot more especially in the city centre and the deposit for rental differs so it could be double and the agent could also want their cut so that's where most of your cash might go. Rentals are 2 weeks before moving in or immediately. The rest is affordable. Rent ranges wildy between areas from 4500 - 9000 for a bachelor and 6000 - 25 000 for 2 bed or 3.
j on Aug 28, 2023:
hi everyone.i am a Chinese living in Shenzhen. RMB 13000(after tax) a month. rent for 3000rmb apartments monthly.so cost of living in Shenzhen 5000rmb a month is reasonable. and that means you don't have much social activities. but if alcohol, cigarette, gas or other entertainment are necessary, then no money saving or even need a debt per month at thie level. hoping helps
ismail eser on Aug 19, 2023:
Hi to everyone...SO I ll move to Shenzhen for working as a teacher on September. But as I am going to get paid on October I will need money to rent a house, water, electricity, gas, internet, deposit and agent money for rent and living. So can anyone help me to find out how much money I should bring with me? Thank you.
李威俊 on Jul 10, 2023:
I am a Chinese living in Shenzhen. RMB 12,000 a month, the rent of nearly 4,000 apartments, excluding living expenses, the remaining money in a month is very small, but for Chinese people, this income is still reasonable
Likhona on May 10, 2023:
Hi Simon, I got a job offer of 13 000 RMB/month with 3 000 RMB for rent. Do you think itll5be sufficient for a single person in Shenzhen?
Nur on Mar 16, 2023:
Hi, Simon

After taxes, your salary would be $2,645.62 per month. If your offer doesn't include a stipend for rent, then based on Numbeo numbers, you'd need about $1,393.21 per month to live alone in Shenzhen including rent for a downtown 1BR apartment. So, yes, you'd be able to save just a little over $1,000 per month.
Simon on Feb 17, 2022:
Hi, I have been offered a teaching job for 24000 Yuan/month. I am coming from Canada. Is that a reasonable salary? Will I be able to save money?
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I think it is reasonable. For most people, the monthly cost is between 5000 and 8000 Yuan per month including rent. So you can save money.