Cost of Living Comparison Between Changchun and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Changchun and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Changchun is 17.2% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 41% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Changchun is 19.5% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 43.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83 ¥20.28
$4.73 ¥33.92
-40.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.44 ¥147
$36.17 ¥259
-43.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.8 ¥34.42
$5.6 ¥40.18
-14.29%
Cappuccino
$2.59 ¥18.61
$3.56 ¥25.53
-27.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ¥3.49
$0.54 ¥3.9
-9.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.92
$0.36 ¥2.59
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.83 ¥5.94
$1.43 ¥10.25
-41.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 ¥14.91
$2.76 ¥19.81
-24.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ¥13.82
$2.18 ¥15.66
-11.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 ¥8.86
$1.81 ¥13
-31.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 ¥9.1
$1.1 ¥7.9
15.45%
Eggs
$1.11 ¥7.96
$1.69 ¥12.1
-34.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.96 ¥92.9
$15.79 ¥113
-17.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.52 ¥25.26
$3.17 ¥22.76
11.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.3 ¥59.5
$10.88 ¥78.1
-23.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.39 ¥9.96
$2.26 ¥16.24
-38.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 ¥7.32
$1.67 ¥11.98
-38.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.8 ¥5.76
$1.78 ¥12.78
-55.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥9.26
$1.52 ¥10.94
-15.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ¥4.79
$0.85 ¥6.09
-21.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$1.17 ¥8.37
-47.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 ¥2.92
$0.68 ¥4.84
-39.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ¥3.94
$0.6 ¥4.29
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 ¥21.82
$2.87 ¥20.56
5.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.38 ¥74.5
$11.16 ¥80
-6.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ¥5.16
$0.8 ¥5.73
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 ¥7
$1.56 ¥11.22
-37.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ¥1.93
$0.4 ¥2.89
-32.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.83 ¥121
$35.15 ¥252
-52.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.14 ¥8.16
$2.29 ¥16.45
-50.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ¥2.03
$0.37 ¥2.69
-24.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 ¥24.46
$8.14 ¥58.4
-58.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥8.34
$1.09 ¥7.81
6.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K ¥128.5K
$19.5K ¥140.1K
-8.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K ¥135.4K
$18.2K ¥130.5K
3.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.55 ¥298
$51.6 ¥370
-19.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.46 ¥104
$8.68 ¥62.2
66.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.03 ¥101
$13.5 ¥96.8
3.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.97 ¥301
$46.42 ¥333
-9.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ¥28.13
$20.44 ¥147
-80.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 ¥35.73
$8.58 ¥61.5
-41.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$274 ¥1,962
$1,307 ¥9,378
-79.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,213 ¥58.9K
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-73.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.75 ¥199
$58.8 ¥422
-52.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.18 ¥216
$36.99 ¥265
-18.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.3 ¥533
$77.7 ¥558
-4.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2 ¥576
$98.5 ¥706
-18.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$276 ¥1,977
$952 ¥6,827
-71.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 ¥1,696
$574 ¥4,115
-58.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$594 ¥4,259
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-76.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 ¥2,547
$1,201 ¥8,614
-70.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,677 ¥12K
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-88.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,964 ¥28.4K
$7,106 ¥51K
-44.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Changchun
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$861 ¥6,173
$1,534 ¥11K
-43.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.27
3.58
47.21%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Changchun: October 29, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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