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Cost of Living Comparison Between Chongqing and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Chongqing and Shanghai

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chongqing is 27.3% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 47.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chongqing is 29.6% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 50% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 ยฅ19.13
$4.77 ยฅ33.35
-42.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.81 ยฅ145
$35.92 ยฅ251
-42.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.76 ยฅ33.28
$5.45 ยฅ38.07
-12.66%
Cappuccino
$2.31 ยฅ16.12
$3.42 ยฅ23.93
-32.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ยฅ2.84
$0.58 ยฅ4.08
-29.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ยฅ1.86
$0.34 ยฅ2.36
-20.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.94 ยฅ6.60
$1.42 ยฅ9.92
-33.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 ยฅ14.71
$2.80 ยฅ19.59
-24.64%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ยฅ11.78
$2.09 ยฅ14.61
-19.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 ยฅ8.38
$1.85 ยฅ12.94
-35.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 ยฅ4.98
$1.10 ยฅ7.67
-35.45%
Eggs
$1.87 ยฅ13.09
$1.60 ยฅ11.21
16.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.41 ยฅ108
$15.28 ยฅ107
0.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 ยฅ18.02
$3.08 ยฅ21.56
-16.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.48 ยฅ73.2
$10.85 ยฅ75.9
-3.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 ยฅ9.94
$2.33 ยฅ16.32
-39.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 ยฅ9.34
$1.77 ยฅ12.37
-24.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 ยฅ7.45
$1.78 ยฅ12.43
-39.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 ยฅ7.78
$1.47 ยฅ10.29
-24.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ยฅ4.52
$0.81 ยฅ5.65
-19.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ยฅ6.02
$1.16 ยฅ8.11
-25.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ยฅ3.92
$0.63 ยฅ4.38
-11.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ยฅ4.74
$0.60 ยฅ4.17
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09 ยฅ21.58
$2.77 ยฅ19.38
11.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.19 ยฅ50.3
$11.49 ยฅ80.3
-37.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ยฅ7.11
$0.84 ยฅ5.87
21.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ยฅ14.36
$1.61 ยฅ11.29
27.33%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ยฅ2.03
$0.40 ยฅ2.79
-27.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.96 ยฅ174
$34.13 ยฅ239
-26.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 ยฅ9.64
$2.29 ยฅ16.00
-39.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 ยฅ2.26
$0.38 ยฅ2.64
-15.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 ยฅ20.04
$8.32 ยฅ58.2
-65.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ยฅ7.67
$1.15 ยฅ8.01
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K ยฅ124.8K
$19.7K ยฅ137.4K
-9.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ยฅ116.5K
$18.3K ยฅ127.7K
-8.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.13 ยฅ253
$52.1 ยฅ364
-30.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.22 ยฅ43.46
$8.79 ยฅ61.4
-29.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.45 ยฅ59.1
$13.87 ยฅ96.9
-39.08%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.55 ยฅ151
$46.42 ยฅ325
-53.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.74 ยฅ110
$19.78 ยฅ138
-20.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.55 ยฅ38.83
$8.28 ยฅ57.9
-32.97%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$331 ยฅ2,315
$1,297 ยฅ9,069
-74.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.4K ยฅ191.3K
$30.9K ยฅ216.0K
-11.43%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.84 ยฅ209
$59.8 ยฅ418
-50.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ยฅ203
$38.03 ยฅ266
-23.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.3 ยฅ407
$77.5 ยฅ541
-24.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.8 ยฅ425
$99.3 ยฅ694
-38.83%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$265 ยฅ1,852
$944 ยฅ6,600
-71.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 ยฅ1,116
$570 ยฅ3,986
-72.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 ยฅ4,035
$2,460 ยฅ17.2K
-76.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$314 ยฅ2,197
$1,204 ยฅ8,413
-73.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,609 ยฅ18.2K
$14.2K ยฅ99.6K
-81.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,627 ยฅ11.4K
$7,080 ยฅ49.5K
-77.02%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chongqing
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,004 ยฅ7,021
$1,632 ยฅ11.4K
-38.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.74
3.58
4.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chongqing: January 12, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: January 10, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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