Cost of Living & Income: Chengdu vs Shenzhen

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Chengdu 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

MetricChengduShenzhenChengdu vs Shenzhen
💰 Average monthly net salary¥8,523¥11,743Shenzhen earns 1.4× the salary in Chengdu

Daily expenses

MetricChengduShenzhenChengdu vs Shenzhen
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥18¥25Shenzhen costs 1.39× the price in Chengdu
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥148¥200Shenzhen costs 1.36× the price in Chengdu
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥35Same price
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥276.8¥382.6Shenzhen costs 1.38× the price in Chengdu
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥84.9¥75.8Chengdu costs 1.12× the price in Shenzhen
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥64.6¥61.7Chengdu costs 1.05× the price in Shenzhen
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥181.8¥330.1Shenzhen costs 1.82× the price in Chengdu
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥40.0¥49.9Shenzhen costs 1.25× the price in Chengdu
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.4¥8.6Shenzhen costs 1.03× the price in Chengdu

Supermarket prices

MetricChengduShenzhenChengdu vs Shenzhen
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥75.3¥93.3Shenzhen costs 1.24× the price in Chengdu
🥚 Eggs (12)¥10.6¥11.8Shenzhen costs 1.11× the price in Chengdu
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥12.5¥11.0Chengdu costs 1.13× the price in Shenzhen
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥11.3¥11.8Shenzhen costs 1.04× the price in Chengdu
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥12.3¥14.7Shenzhen costs 1.19× the price in Chengdu
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥4.8¥7.3Shenzhen costs 1.52× the price in Chengdu
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥8.2¥9.5Shenzhen costs 1.16× the price in Chengdu
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥5.4¥6.4Shenzhen costs 1.18× the price in Chengdu
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥37.5¥88.0Shenzhen costs 2.35× the price in Chengdu

Rent & property prices

MetricChengduShenzhenChengdu vs Shenzhen
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥3,157¥4,543Shenzhen costs 1.44× the price in Chengdu
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥1,740¥3,049Shenzhen costs 1.75× the price in Chengdu
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥5,711¥12,006Shenzhen costs 2.10× the price in Chengdu
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,595¥5,876Shenzhen costs 1.63× the price in Chengdu
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥25,294¥87,274Shenzhen costs 3.45× the price in Chengdu
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥13,037¥41,349Shenzhen costs 3.17× the price in Chengdu