Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Changshu and Shanghai

For one person, living is cheaper in Changshu: $712 a month against $1,244 in Shanghai, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

35

Cost of Living Index in Changshu
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Changshu Living Index
61

Cost of Living Index in Shanghai
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Shanghai Living Index

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Changshu

🇨🇳 China

$712

/mo nomad

Shanghai

🇨🇳 China

$1,244

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Changshu and in Shanghai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Changshu and in Shanghai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in Changshu versus $1,244 in Shanghai.

Changshu $712
Shanghai $1,244

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Changshu versus $1,999 in Shanghai.

Changshu $1,128
Shanghai $1,999

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,544 in Changshu versus $2,755 in Shanghai.

Changshu $1,544
Shanghai $2,755

Living in Changshu costs roughly 43% less than in Shanghai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changshu 47% lower, Shanghai 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.83 ¥18.91

$4.56 ¥30.47

-37.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.95 ¥147

$30.21 ¥202

-27.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 ¥32.85

$5.25 ¥35.13

-6.48%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ¥19.60

$3.28 ¥21.94

-10.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ¥3.08

$0.57 ¥3.84

-19.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.79

$0.36 ¥2.39

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ¥5.82

$1.23 ¥8.23

-29.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ¥13.66

$2.27 ¥15.18

-10.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ¥12.59

$1.84 ¥12.30

2.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ¥10.38

$1.96 ¥13.08

-20.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 ¥5.97

$1.03 ¥6.87

-13.59%

Eggs

$1.58 ¥10.58

$1.67 ¥11.16

-5.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.80 ¥85.6

$16.96 ¥113

-24.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 ¥21.10

$3.19 ¥21.33

-0.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 ¥67.0

$12.90 ¥86.3

-22.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ¥12.49

$2.24 ¥15.00

-16.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 ¥8.35

$1.66 ¥11.13

-24.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ¥10.37

$2.02 ¥13.54

-23.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ¥7.70

$1.66 ¥11.08

-30.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.66

$0.77 ¥5.17

-9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.33

$0.93 ¥6.21

2.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ¥3.72

$0.63 ¥4.19

-11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ¥3.39

$0.60 ¥3.99

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ¥21.52

$3.80 ¥25.44

-15.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 ¥70.0

$10.87 ¥72.7

-3.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥5.22

$0.82 ¥5.51

-4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.53

$1.61 ¥10.76

-2.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ¥1.79

$0.61 ¥4.11

-55.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.48 ¥110

$29.40 ¥197

-43.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ¥9.51

$2.11 ¥14.11

-32.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ¥2.17

$0.43 ¥2.87

-23.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.63 ¥44.35

$9.06 ¥60.6

-26.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.52

$1.33 ¥8.89

-15.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.6K ¥130.7K

$19.0K ¥127.2K

2.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.2K ¥115.1K

$18.7K ¥125.1K

-7.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$46.01 ¥308

$57.8 ¥387

-20.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.96 ¥66.6

$8.09 ¥54.1

23.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.63 ¥77.8

$10.48 ¥70.0

10.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.09 ¥275

$65.7 ¥439

-37.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.00 ¥93.6

$17.82 ¥119

-21.44%

Cinema Ticket

$5.81 ¥38.83

$8.95 ¥59.9

-35.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$329 ¥2,198

$1,414 ¥9,451

-76.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.9K ¥112.9K

$27.9K ¥186.2K

-39.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.18 ¥289

$54.0 ¥361

-20.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.03 ¥201

$37.09 ¥248

-19.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 ¥483

$74.3 ¥496

-2.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 ¥479

$106 ¥706

-32.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$280 ¥1,870

$1,055 ¥7,056

-73.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 ¥1,283

$585 ¥3,910

-67.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$597 ¥3,995

$2,485 ¥16.6K

-75.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 ¥2,385

$1,232 ¥8,240

-71.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,988 ¥20.0K

$13.9K ¥93.1K

-78.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,068 ¥13.8K

$6,253 ¥41.8K

-66.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,711 ¥11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.89

3.36

15.77%

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

Last update for Changshu: October 13, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Changshu

$198 27.8%

Shanghai

$235 18.9% 18.8% $37

Accommodation & Living

Changshu

$192 27%

Shanghai

$585 47% 205% $393

Clothing & Footwear

Changshu

$98 13.7%

Shanghai

$122 9.8% 24.8% $24

Eating Out

Changshu

$84 11.8%

Shanghai

$106 8.5% 26.4% $22

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Changshu

$68 9.5%

Shanghai

$76 6.1% 13% $8.8

Sport & Entertainment

Changshu

$53 7.4%

Shanghai

$84 6.7% 58.6% $31

Getting Around

Changshu

$21 2.9%

Shanghai

$36 2.9% 75.3% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Changshu and $1,055 in Shanghai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Changshu vs $30.00 in Shanghai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $235 per month, with Changshu cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇨🇳 Changshu

🇨🇳 Shanghai

🕒 Local time

11:43 11:43 AM

Same time as Changshu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,677,050

24,870,895

💱 Currency

Chinese Yuan CNY ¥

📈 Exchange rate

1 CNY = 0.15 USD

1 CNY = 0.133 EUR

1 CNY = 0.15 USD

1 CNY = 0.133 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Changshu vs Shanghai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changshu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,068 in Changshu and $1,865 in Shanghai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $280 in Changshu versus $1,055 in Shanghai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Changshu – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $30.00 in Shanghai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $712 per month in Changshu versus $1,244 in Shanghai – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $712 in Changshu versus $1,244 in Shanghai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Changshu but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Changshu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Changshu and Shanghai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Changshu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.