Cost of Living & Income: Beijing vs Shenzhen

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Beijing and Shenzhen are averages compiled from millions of user-contributed income and living-cost entries worldwide over the last 12 months (updated July 2026), converted to Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥). Green 🟢 marks a higher income or a lower price. Source: NUMBEO, which is widely cited by international media; the Seapoe team compiled, translated and processed the data.

Income comparison

MetricBeijingShenzhenBeijing vs Shenzhen
💰 Average monthly net salary¥10,657¥11,743Shenzhen earns 1.1× the salary in Beijing

Daily expenses

MetricBeijingShenzhenBeijing vs Shenzhen
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥30¥25Beijing costs 1.20× the price in Shenzhen
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥200Same price
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥35Same price
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥387.9¥382.6Beijing costs 1.01× the price in Shenzhen
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥98.2¥75.8Beijing costs 1.30× the price in Shenzhen
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥64.9¥61.7Beijing costs 1.05× the price in Shenzhen
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥263.0¥330.1Shenzhen costs 1.26× the price in Beijing
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥50.0¥49.9Beijing costs 1.00× the price in Shenzhen
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.5¥8.6Shenzhen costs 1.02× the price in Beijing

Supermarket prices

MetricBeijingShenzhenBeijing vs Shenzhen
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥74.5¥93.3Shenzhen costs 1.25× the price in Beijing
🥚 Eggs (12)¥13.9¥11.8Beijing costs 1.19× the price in Shenzhen
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥12.5¥11.0Beijing costs 1.14× the price in Shenzhen
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥11.8¥11.8Beijing costs 1.01× the price in Shenzhen
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥14.0¥14.7Shenzhen costs 1.04× the price in Beijing
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥5.3¥7.3Shenzhen costs 1.38× the price in Beijing
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥10.9¥9.5Beijing costs 1.15× the price in Shenzhen
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.7¥6.4Beijing costs 1.06× the price in Shenzhen
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥100.0¥88.0Beijing costs 1.14× the price in Shenzhen

Rent & property prices

MetricBeijingShenzhenBeijing vs Shenzhen
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥6,538¥4,543Beijing costs 1.44× the price in Shenzhen
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,506¥3,049Beijing costs 1.15× the price in Shenzhen
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥16,500¥12,006Beijing costs 1.37× the price in Shenzhen
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥7,584¥5,876Beijing costs 1.29× the price in Shenzhen
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥83,613¥87,274Shenzhen costs 1.04× the price in Beijing
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥42,337¥41,349Beijing costs 1.02× the price in Shenzhen