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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $634 per month in Chongqing vs $1,187 in Shanghai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,031 per month in Chongqing vs $1,956 in Shanghai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,429 per month in Chongqing vs $2,725 in Shanghai, rent included.

Chongqing is about 47% cheaper than Shanghai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chongqing and Shanghai are more affordable than the global median – Chongqing 53% lower, Shanghai 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 ¥18.66

$5.01 ¥34.24

-45.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.15 ¥145

$35.92 ¥246

-41.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥34.09

$5.49 ¥37.55

-9.29%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ¥16.25

$3.57 ¥24.42

-33.33%

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

$0.44 ¥3.00

$0.59 ¥4.02

-25.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.98

$0.37 ¥2.51

-21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ¥6.50

$1.43 ¥9.77

-33.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥14.57

$2.84 ¥19.42

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 ¥12.16

$2.20 ¥15.01

-19.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ¥8.52

$1.86 ¥12.75

-32.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.96

$1.06 ¥7.22

-31.13%

Eggs

$1.86 ¥12.70

$1.61 ¥11.02

15.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.87 ¥109

$15.67 ¥107

1.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 ¥17.14

$3.23 ¥22.06

-22.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.37 ¥70.9

$11.12 ¥76.1

-6.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.11

$2.27 ¥15.52

-34.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ¥8.94

$1.67 ¥11.44

-21.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 ¥7.34

$1.79 ¥12.27

-40.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.75

$1.45 ¥9.91

-22.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ¥4.44

$0.80 ¥5.46

-18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 ¥6.12

$1.12 ¥7.64

-19.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ¥3.67

$0.67 ¥4.61

-19.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ¥4.31

$0.60 ¥4.14

5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ¥21.57

$2.71 ¥18.57

16.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.89 ¥60.8

$11.64 ¥79.6

-23.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ¥6.56

$0.85 ¥5.79

12.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ¥13.55

$1.63 ¥11.14

21.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ¥1.84

$0.44 ¥2.99

-38.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.11 ¥172

$35.31 ¥242

-28.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ¥9.61

$2.26 ¥15.49

-37.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ¥2.03

$0.37 ¥2.54

-18.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ¥18.54

$8.61 ¥58.9

-68.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ¥7.59

$1.10 ¥7.54

0.91%

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

$18.3K ¥125.4K

$19.8K ¥135.2K

-7.29%

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

$16.3K ¥111.5K

$18.3K ¥125.0K

-10.79%

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

$35.98 ¥246

$53.2 ¥364

-32.38%

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

$6.04 ¥41.33

$8.94 ¥61.1

-32.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.45 ¥57.8

$13.59 ¥93.0

-37.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.73 ¥149

$46.11 ¥315

-52.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.95 ¥109

$20.42 ¥140

-21.89%

Cinema Ticket

$5.46 ¥37.31

$8.33 ¥57.0

-34.45%

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

$331 ¥2,264

$1,293 ¥8,843

-74.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.4K ¥187.5K

$32.0K ¥218.9K

-14.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.34 ¥201

$58.9 ¥403

-50.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.75 ¥197

$37.98 ¥260

-24.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.5 ¥400

$79.1 ¥541

-26.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.0 ¥410

$98.6 ¥674

-39.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ¥1,818

$955 ¥6,531

-72.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 ¥1,083

$569 ¥3,889

-72.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ¥3,979

$2,489 ¥17.0K

-76.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ¥2,214

$1,198 ¥8,192

-72.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,569 ¥17.6K

$14.0K ¥95.7K

-81.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,657 ¥11.3K

$7,088 ¥48.5K

-76.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,041 ¥7,123

$1,696 ¥11.6K

-38.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.74

3.58

4.47%

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

Last update for Chongqing: April 21, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Chongqing versus $955 in Shanghai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 63% higher in Shanghai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21 in Chongqing versus $36 in Shanghai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $229 – making Chongqing the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Chongqing vs Shanghai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shanghai is pricier by about 87%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $951 per month in Chongqing and $1,781 in Shanghai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chongqing, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $331 per month in Chongqing and $1,293 in Shanghai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Shanghai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chongqing, where all-in costs run around $634, than in Shanghai at $1,187. In Chongqing it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shanghai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chongqing – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Chongqing. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shanghai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.