Cost of Living Comparison Between Changzhou and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Changzhou and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Changzhou is 36.1% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 43.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Changzhou is 28.7% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 39.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83 ¥20.28
$4.73 ¥33.92
-40.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.78 ¥192
$36.17 ¥259
-25.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.15 ¥29.76
$5.6 ¥40.18
-25.89%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ¥22.17
$3.56 ¥25.53
-13.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.2
$0.54 ¥3.9
-16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 ¥1.79
$0.36 ¥2.59
-30.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.67 ¥4.8
$1.43 ¥10.25
-53.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 ¥9.73
$2.76 ¥19.81
-50.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ¥13.75
$2.18 ¥15.66
-11.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 ¥9.19
$1.81 ¥13
-29.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ¥6.74
$1.1 ¥7.9
-14.55%
Eggs
$1.75 ¥12.52
$1.69 ¥12.1
3.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.01 ¥50.3
$15.79 ¥113
-55.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.41 ¥17.25
$3.17 ¥22.76
-23.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.65 ¥69.2
$10.88 ¥78.1
-11.31%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 ¥13
$2.26 ¥16.24
-19.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 ¥12.62
$1.67 ¥11.98
5.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 ¥11.32
$1.78 ¥12.78
-11.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 ¥7.22
$1.52 ¥10.94
-33.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ¥5.27
$0.85 ¥6.09
-14.12%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.7
$1.17 ¥8.37
-20.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 ¥2.82
$0.68 ¥4.84
-42.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ¥3.51
$0.6 ¥4.29
-18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 ¥21.8
$2.87 ¥20.56
5.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.78 ¥70.2
$11.16 ¥80
-12.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ¥5.09
$0.8 ¥5.73
-11.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 ¥12.11
$1.56 ¥11.22
8.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 ¥2.33
$0.4 ¥2.89
-17.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.52 ¥97
$35.15 ¥252
-61.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.73
$2.29 ¥16.45
-40.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 ¥1.86
$0.37 ¥2.69
-29.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 ¥19.61
$8.14 ¥58.4
-66.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥8.3
$1.09 ¥7.81
6.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.3K ¥109.6K
$19.5K ¥140.1K
-21.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K ¥123.8K
$18.2K ¥130.5K
-5.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.11 ¥324
$51.6 ¥370
-12.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.25 ¥80.7
$8.68 ¥62.2
29.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.62 ¥134
$13.5 ¥96.8
37.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.2 ¥274
$46.42 ¥333
-17.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.89 ¥99.7
$20.44 ¥147
-32.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 ¥46.08
$8.58 ¥61.5
-25.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 ¥1,674
$1,307 ¥9,378
-82.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14K ¥100.4K
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-55.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.33 ¥325
$58.8 ¥422
-22.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.95 ¥186
$36.99 ¥265
-29.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 ¥501
$77.7 ¥558
-10.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.2 ¥497
$98.5 ¥706
-29.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$284 ¥2,036
$952 ¥6,827
-70.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$203 ¥1,453
$574 ¥4,115
-64.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$864 ¥6,198
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-65.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$459 ¥3,291
$1,201 ¥8,614
-61.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,858 ¥20.5K
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-80.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,487 ¥10.7K
$7,106 ¥51K
-79.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Changzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,092 ¥7,831
$1,534 ¥11K
-28.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.35
3.58
-6.42%

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

Last update for Changzhou: October 27, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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