Cost of Living & Income: Shenzhen vs Dubai

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Shenzhen and Dubai 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

MetricShenzhenDubaiShenzhen vs Dubai
💰 Average monthly net salary¥11,743¥23,043Dubai earns 2.0× the salary in Shenzhen

Daily expenses

MetricShenzhenDubaiShenzhen vs Dubai
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥25¥83Dubai costs 3.31× the price in Shenzhen
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥551Dubai costs 2.76× the price in Shenzhen
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥64Dubai costs 1.84× the price in Shenzhen
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥382.6¥1,600.0Dubai costs 4.18× the price in Shenzhen
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥75.8¥636.8Dubai costs 8.40× the price in Shenzhen
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥61.7¥368.7Dubai costs 5.97× the price in Shenzhen
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥330.1¥605.2Dubai costs 1.83× the price in Shenzhen
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥49.9¥110.3Dubai costs 2.21× the price in Shenzhen
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.6¥6.1Shenzhen costs 1.41× the price in Dubai

Supermarket prices

MetricShenzhenDubaiShenzhen vs Dubai
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥93.3¥86.2Shenzhen costs 1.08× the price in Dubai
🥚 Eggs (12)¥11.8¥23.5Dubai costs 2.00× the price in Shenzhen
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥11.0¥12.3Dubai costs 1.12× the price in Shenzhen
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥11.8¥10.0Shenzhen costs 1.18× the price in Dubai
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥14.7¥17.8Dubai costs 1.21× the price in Shenzhen
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥7.3¥7.2Shenzhen costs 1.02× the price in Dubai
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥9.5¥9.7Dubai costs 1.02× the price in Shenzhen
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.4¥18.8Dubai costs 2.95× the price in Shenzhen
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥88.0¥110.3Dubai costs 1.25× the price in Shenzhen

Rent & property prices

MetricShenzhenDubaiShenzhen vs Dubai
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥4,543¥16,491Dubai costs 3.63× the price in Shenzhen
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,049¥10,109Dubai costs 3.32× the price in Shenzhen
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥12,006¥30,464Dubai costs 2.54× the price in Shenzhen
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥5,876¥20,045Dubai costs 3.41× the price in Shenzhen
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥87,274¥47,106Shenzhen costs 1.85× the price in Dubai
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥41,349¥27,037Shenzhen costs 1.53× the price in Dubai