Cost of Living & Income: Shenzhen vs Brussels

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Shenzhen and Brussels 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

MetricShenzhenBrusselsShenzhen vs Brussels
💰 Average monthly net salary¥11,743¥21,835Brussels earns 1.9× the salary in Shenzhen

Daily expenses

MetricShenzhenBrusselsShenzhen vs Brussels
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥25¥156Brussels costs 6.22× the price in Shenzhen
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥622Brussels costs 3.11× the price in Shenzhen
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥98Brussels costs 2.81× the price in Shenzhen
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥382.6¥1,674.7Brussels costs 4.38× the price in Shenzhen
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥75.8¥373.3Brussels costs 4.92× the price in Shenzhen
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥61.7¥150.3Brussels costs 2.44× the price in Shenzhen
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥330.1¥255.1Shenzhen costs 1.29× the price in Brussels
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥49.9¥108.9Brussels costs 2.18× the price in Shenzhen
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.6¥13.9Brussels costs 1.61× the price in Shenzhen

Supermarket prices

MetricShenzhenBrusselsShenzhen vs Brussels
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥93.3¥154.1Brussels costs 1.65× the price in Shenzhen
🥚 Eggs (12)¥11.8¥35.8Brussels costs 3.04× the price in Shenzhen
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥11.0¥9.9Shenzhen costs 1.11× the price in Brussels
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥11.8¥20.4Brussels costs 1.73× the price in Shenzhen
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥14.7¥21.8Brussels costs 1.49× the price in Shenzhen
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥7.3¥19.1Brussels costs 2.61× the price in Shenzhen
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥9.5¥29.4Brussels costs 3.09× the price in Shenzhen
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.4¥18.4Brussels costs 2.89× the price in Shenzhen
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥88.0¥68.0Shenzhen costs 1.29× the price in Brussels

Rent & property prices

MetricShenzhenBrusselsShenzhen vs Brussels
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥4,543¥9,599Brussels costs 2.11× the price in Shenzhen
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,049¥7,949Brussels costs 2.61× the price in Shenzhen
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥12,006¥17,853Brussels costs 1.49× the price in Shenzhen
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥5,876¥13,983Brussels costs 2.38× the price in Shenzhen
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥87,274¥35,599Shenzhen costs 2.45× the price in Brussels
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥41,349¥28,075Shenzhen costs 1.47× the price in Brussels