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: $1,237 in Craiova versus $1,247 in Shanghai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,776 in Craiova versus $2,010 in Shanghai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,314 in Craiova versus $2,773 in Shanghai.

Living in Craiova costs roughly 1% less than in Shanghai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Craiova 10% lower, Shanghai 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.84 RON 35.53

$4.36 ¥29.29

79.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.81 RON 171

$29.84 ¥200

26.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.81 RON 35.40

$5.07 ¥34.04

54.04%

Cappuccino

$2.79 RON 12.66

$3.38 ¥22.71

-17.46%

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

$2.37 RON 10.74

$0.59 ¥3.96

301.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 RON 8.93

$0.36 ¥2.44

447.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 RON 11.25

$1.16 ¥7.77

113.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 RON 16.59

$2.38 ¥15.96

53.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 RON 6.16

$2.07 ¥13.89

-34.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 RON 3.83

$1.97 ¥13.22

-57.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 RON 6.58

$0.97 ¥6.49

49.48%

Eggs

$3.61 RON 16.36

$1.68 ¥11.25

114.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.52 RON 34.10

$16.91 ¥113

-55.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 RON 31.18

$3.39 ¥22.72

102.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 RON 54.6

$13.15 ¥88.2

-8.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.59

$2.32 ¥15.59

-56.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.88

$1.75 ¥11.73

-13.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 RON 6.70

$2.00 ¥13.42

-26.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 RON 8.25

$1.75 ¥11.76

4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 RON 3.92

$0.82 ¥5.48

4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 RON 3.97

$1.00 ¥6.74

-12.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 RON 3.51

$0.65 ¥4.35

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.61

$0.65 ¥4.35

23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.89 RON 31.23

$4.41 ¥29.59

56.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.48 RON 29.37

$11.17 ¥75.0

-41.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 RON 5.72

$0.94 ¥6.33

34.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 RON 7.04

$1.56 ¥10.48

-0.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 RON 3.82

$0.58 ¥3.89

44.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 RON 118

$29.43 ¥197

-11.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.05

$2.24 ¥15.02

-70.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 RON 3.08

$0.43 ¥2.88

58.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.51 RON 29.51

$8.77 ¥58.8

-25.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 RON 8.47

$1.25 ¥8.41

49.60%

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

$29.4K RON 133.1K

$19.7K ¥132.1K

49.14%

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

$27.5K RON 124.6K

$18.2K ¥122.4K

50.74%

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

$207 RON 938

$61.6 ¥413

235.76%

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

$10.58 RON 47.96

$8.45 ¥56.7

25.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.54 RON 52.3

$10.41 ¥69.9

10.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.56 RON 188

$69.7 ¥467

-40.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.06 RON 105

$16.38 ¥110

40.78%

Cinema Ticket

$7.76 RON 35.19

$8.84 ¥59.3

-12.22%

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

$446 RON 2,023

$1,383 ¥9,279

-67.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,665 RON 39.3K

$27.0K ¥181.1K

-67.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 RON 265

$51.9 ¥348

12.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 RON 229

$37.86 ¥254

33.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 RON 380

$74.9 ¥503

11.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 RON 498

$105 ¥707

4.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 RON 2,438

$985 ¥6,609

-45.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$413 RON 1,874

$572 ¥3,838

-27.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 RON 4,147

$2,470 ¥16.6K

-62.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 RON 2,861

$1,197 ¥8,034

-47.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,730 RON 12.4K

$13.7K ¥91.6K

-80.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,044 RON 9,268

$6,149 ¥41.3K

-66.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$966 RON 4,381

$1,734 ¥11.6K

-44.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.84

3.35

104.18%

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

Last update for Craiova: August 29, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $538 in Craiova and $985 in Shanghai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 79% 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: $38.00 in Craiova vs $30.00 in Shanghai. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $242, 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 1% 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 79% 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: $538 in Craiova versus $985 in Shanghai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Craiova versus $1,247 in Shanghai – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 13% less than in Shanghai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,237 in Craiova versus $1,247 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 1% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.