Cost of Living Comparison Between Craiova and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Craiova and Shanghai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,122 in Craiova versus $1,192 in Shanghai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,626 in Craiova versus $1,958 in Shanghai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Craiova versus $2,724 in Shanghai.

Living in Craiova costs roughly 6% less than in Shanghai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Craiova 16% lower, Shanghai 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.18 RON 41.92

$4.72 ¥31.97

94.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.85 RON 214

$35.92 ¥243

30.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 RON 36.16

$5.74 ¥38.81

37.98%

Cappuccino

$2.51 RON 11.44

$3.52 ¥23.80

-28.69%

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

$2.19 RON 9.99

$0.57 ¥3.88

284.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 RON 8.93

$0.33 ¥2.25

493.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 RON 10.80

$1.36 ¥9.20

74.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 RON 15.62

$2.84 ¥19.20

20.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 RON 7.19

$2.10 ¥14.20

-25.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 RON 4.25

$1.80 ¥12.15

-48.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 RON 7.70

$1.05 ¥7.13

60.95%

Eggs

$3.35 RON 15.31

$1.68 ¥11.35

99.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 RON 33.82

$15.78 ¥107

-53.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 RON 30.59

$3.17 ¥21.43

111.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.62 RON 43.91

$11.02 ¥74.6

-12.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.27 RON 5.79

$2.38 ¥16.08

-46.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 RON 7.52

$1.69 ¥11.47

-2.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 RON 7.30

$1.78 ¥12.07

-10.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 RON 8.40

$1.45 ¥9.83

26.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 RON 4.95

$0.83 ¥5.64

30.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.20

$1.13 ¥7.64

0.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 RON 3.58

$0.68 ¥4.57

14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RON 3.58

$0.60 ¥4.06

30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.95 RON 27.16

$2.82 ¥19.06

110.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.14 RON 28.03

$11.74 ¥79.5

-47.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 RON 5.97

$0.78 ¥5.28

67.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 RON 10.50

$1.57 ¥10.64

46.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 RON 3.06

$0.41 ¥2.74

63.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.28 RON 106

$35.05 ¥237

-33.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.59 RON 2.72

$2.26 ¥15.28

-73.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 RON 3.71

$0.37 ¥2.52

118.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.96 RON 31.79

$8.18 ¥55.4

-14.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 RON 7.13

$1.15 ¥7.80

35.65%

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

$27.9K RON 127.2K

$19.3K ¥130.5K

44.45%

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

$27.4K RON 125.1K

$17.7K ¥120.0K

54.57%

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

$209 RON 956

$53.0 ¥359

294.96%

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

$7.88 RON 35.98

$8.77 ¥59.4

-10.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.73 RON 53.5

$13.78 ¥93.3

-14.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.60 RON 167

$45.42 ¥307

-19.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.87 RON 86.1

$20.00 ¥135

-5.65%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 RON 30.19

$8.30 ¥56.2

-20.36%

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

$430 RON 1,961

$1,264 ¥8,555

-66.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,943 RON 40.8K

$31.7K ¥214.3K

-71.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 RON 358

$57.7 ¥390

36.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.01 RON 169

$37.93 ¥257

-2.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 RON 363

$77.0 ¥521

3.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 RON 394

$96.7 ¥655

-10.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 RON 1,774

$955 ¥6,466

-59.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 RON 1,394

$555 ¥3,755

-44.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$707 RON 3,225

$2,497 ¥16.9K

-71.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 RON 1,988

$1,207 ¥8,166

-63.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,557 RON 11.7K

$14.3K ¥96.7K

-82.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,999 RON 9,126

$6,625 ¥44.8K

-69.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$971 RON 4,434

$1,702 ¥11.5K

-42.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

3.58

75.42%

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

Last update for Craiova: July 14, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $389 in Craiova and $955 in Shanghai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 75% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Craiova vs $36.00 in Shanghai. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $228, with Craiova cheaper for home cooking.

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

Craiova vs Shanghai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Craiova wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Shanghai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Craiova the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Shanghai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $389 in Craiova versus $955 in Shanghai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,122 per month in Craiova versus $1,192 in Shanghai – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 51% less than in Shanghai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,122 in Craiova versus $1,192 in Shanghai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Craiova but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Craiova 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, Craiova 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 Craiova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.