Cost of Living Comparison Between Changshu and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Changshu and Shanghai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $709 in Changshu versus $1,209 in Shanghai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,130 in Changshu versus $1,979 in Shanghai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,551 in Changshu versus $2,749 in Shanghai.

Living in Changshu costs roughly 41% less than in Shanghai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changshu 47% lower, Shanghai 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 ¥19.05

$4.90 ¥33.21

-42.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.75 ¥147

$36.30 ¥246

-40.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 ¥33.29

$5.59 ¥37.88

-12.16%

Cappuccino

$3.07 ¥20.77

$3.55 ¥24.06

-13.52%

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

$0.44 ¥2.96

$0.57 ¥3.88

-22.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.81

$0.36 ¥2.46

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ¥5.90

$1.43 ¥9.67

-39.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ¥13.86

$2.85 ¥19.27

-28.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ¥12.77

$2.16 ¥14.62

-12.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ¥10.53

$1.78 ¥12.04

-12.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.40

$1.10 ¥7.43

-13.64%

Eggs

$1.55 ¥10.47

$1.69 ¥11.45

-8.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.87 ¥87.2

$15.30 ¥104

-15.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 ¥21.79

$3.12 ¥21.15

3.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.32 ¥69.9

$10.76 ¥72.9

-4.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.16

$2.26 ¥15.31

-20.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ¥8.24

$1.67 ¥11.33

-26.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ¥10.06

$1.80 ¥12.18

-17.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.47

$1.53 ¥10.36

-28.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 ¥5.00

$0.81 ¥5.47

-8.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ¥6.50

$1.11 ¥7.53

-13.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ¥3.80

$0.68 ¥4.62

-17.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ¥3.76

$0.56 ¥3.76

-1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ¥21.33

$2.84 ¥19.22

10.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.59 ¥71.8

$11.60 ¥78.6

-8.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.66

$1.64 ¥11.08

-4.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.98

$0.43 ¥2.94

-32.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.75 ¥113

$34.41 ¥233

-51.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 ¥9.69

$2.21 ¥14.94

-35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 ¥2.21

$0.38 ¥2.56

-13.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 ¥46.42

$8.38 ¥56.7

-18.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.62

$1.14 ¥7.72

-1.75%

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

$19.6K ¥132.4K

$19.5K ¥132.3K

0.07%

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

$17.3K ¥117.3K

$18.1K ¥122.9K

-4.57%

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

$44.27 ¥300

$52.8 ¥358

-16.17%

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

$9.92 ¥67.2

$8.53 ¥57.8

16.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.49 ¥77.8

$13.84 ¥93.7

-16.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.00 ¥278

$47.02 ¥318

-12.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ¥94.3

$19.81 ¥134

-29.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.04 ¥40.91

$8.46 ¥57.3

-28.61%

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

$335 ¥2,268

$1,303 ¥8,823

-74.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ¥116.1K

$31.6K ¥213.8K

-45.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 ¥296

$59.6 ¥404

-26.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.70 ¥208

$38.09 ¥258

-19.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 ¥490

$78.8 ¥534

-8.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ¥489

$99.3 ¥672

-27.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 ¥1,854

$933 ¥6,317

-70.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 ¥1,327

$570 ¥3,861

-65.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 ¥4,079

$2,490 ¥16.9K

-75.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 ¥2,478

$1,192 ¥8,075

-69.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,045 ¥20.6K

$14.0K ¥94.7K

-78.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,017 ¥13.7K

$6,729 ¥45.6K

-70.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,689 ¥11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.89

3.58

8.66%

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

Last update for Changshu: May 30, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Changshu and $933 in Shanghai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $22.00 in Changshu vs $36.00 in Shanghai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $225 per month, with Changshu cheaper across the board.

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 & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,064 in Changshu and $1,814 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: $274 in Changshu versus $933 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 $36.00 in Shanghai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $709 per month in Changshu versus $1,209 in Shanghai – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $709 in Changshu versus $1,209 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 70% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.