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Cities / Shenzhen / Cost of Living

🇨🇳 Cost of Living in Shenzhen

How much you'll actually spend — not what travel blogs tell you

Monthly budget · Single · city center

$962/mo

Just you and your questionable life decisions

Rent(1BR)$743
Groceries & eating out$110
Transport$22
Utilities & phones$87
Average local salary (after tax)$1,709/mo

The real monthly damage

Rent — the biggest line item

1BR, city center$743/mo
1BR, outside center$471/mo
3BR, city center$1,775/mo
3BR, outside center$901/mo

Source: Numbeo. Prices in USD unless toggled.

Grocery prices — the supermarket reality check

Milk (1L)$1.69
Bread (loaf)$1.89
Eggs (12)$1.79
Rice (1kg)$1.24
Chicken (1kg)$3.95
Apples (1kg)$2.04
Tomatoes (1kg)$1.31
Potatoes (1kg)$1.04
Water (1.5L)$0.62
Wine (mid-range)$14
Beer (0.5L)$0.96

Eating out — because you won't cook every night

Cheap meal$3.68
Mid-range dinner for 2$29
Cappuccino$3.06
Beer (draught)$1.32
Coke (0.33L)$0.53

Getting around — or trying to

Monthly pass$22
Single ride$0.44
Taxi start$1.47
Taxi per km$0.40
Gasoline (1L)$1.21

30-day trial run

What a month-long scouting trip costs before you commit to anything permanent.

Short-term rental$1,114
Food (2 meals + coffee/day)$313
Transport (2 rides/day)$26
SIM card$9.00
Total 30 days$1,462

Shenzhen vs. similar cities

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live in Shenzhen?

A single person can expect to spend about $962/month in Shenzhen, including rent in the city center, groceries, transport, and utilities. Couples need roughly $1,103/month.

What is the average salary in Shenzhen?

The average monthly net salary (after tax) in Shenzhen is about $1,709, according to Numbeo data.

Is Shenzhen expensive compared to other cities?

Compared to similar cities: Taipei ($1,044/mo), Almaty ($1,241/mo), Phuket ($1,065/mo), Bangkok ($982/mo), Kuala Lumpur ($958/mo). Shenzhen comes in at $962/mo for a single person.

Cost data sourced from Numbeo. Updated periodically.