Cost of Living Comparison Between Guizhou and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Guizhou and Shanghai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Guizhou versus $1,209 in Shanghai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $924 in Guizhou versus $1,979 in Shanghai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,266 in Guizhou versus $2,749 in Shanghai.

Living in Guizhou costs roughly 52% less than in Shanghai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Guizhou 57% lower, Shanghai 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 ¥14.58

$4.90 ¥33.21

-56.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.48 ¥132

$36.30 ¥246

-46.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.30 ¥35.89

$5.59 ¥37.88

-5.19%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ¥21.15

$3.55 ¥24.06

-12.11%

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

$0.41 ¥2.75

$0.57 ¥3.88

-28.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 ¥1.61

$0.36 ¥2.46

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 ¥4.60

$1.43 ¥9.67

-52.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 ¥9.24

$2.85 ¥19.27

-52.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ¥13.27

$2.16 ¥14.62

-9.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 ¥9.15

$1.78 ¥12.04

-24.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.74

$1.10 ¥7.43

-22.73%

Eggs

$2.03 ¥13.74

$1.69 ¥11.45

20.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 ¥92.5

$15.30 ¥104

-10.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 ¥32.63

$3.12 ¥21.15

54.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.64 ¥72.0

$10.76 ¥72.9

-1.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 ¥10.83

$2.26 ¥15.31

-29.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.02

$1.67 ¥11.33

-11.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 ¥6.89

$1.80 ¥12.18

-43.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ¥7.60

$1.53 ¥10.36

-26.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ¥3.21

$0.81 ¥5.47

-41.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 ¥3.70

$1.11 ¥7.53

-50.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 ¥3.43

$0.68 ¥4.62

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.57

$0.56 ¥3.76

-5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 ¥18.56

$2.84 ¥19.22

-3.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 ¥50.3

$11.60 ¥78.6

-36.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥5.03

$0.79 ¥5.32

-6.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 ¥17.51

$1.64 ¥11.08

57.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ¥2.28

$0.43 ¥2.94

-20.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.94 ¥115

$34.41 ¥233

-50.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 ¥11.46

$2.21 ¥14.94

-23.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.92

$0.38 ¥2.56

-26.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 ¥46.48

$8.38 ¥56.7

-18.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ¥7.94

$1.14 ¥7.72

2.63%

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

$13.9K ¥93.9K

$19.5K ¥132.3K

-29.06%

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

$15.4K ¥104.0K

$18.1K ¥122.9K

-15.41%

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

$27.34 ¥185

$52.8 ¥358

-48.23%

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

$5.64 ¥38.23

$8.53 ¥57.8

-33.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.57 ¥58.0

$13.84 ¥93.7

-38.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.59 ¥119

$47.02 ¥318

-62.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.88 ¥94.0

$19.81 ¥134

-29.93%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ¥46.88

$8.46 ¥57.3

-18.20%

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

$299 ¥2,025

$1,303 ¥8,823

-77.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ¥72.8K

$31.6K ¥213.8K

-65.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.65 ¥235

$59.6 ¥404

-41.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.45 ¥166

$38.09 ¥258

-35.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.9 ¥406

$78.8 ¥534

-23.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.25 ¥266

$99.3 ¥672

-60.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 ¥1,880

$933 ¥6,317

-70.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 ¥910

$570 ¥3,861

-76.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$357 ¥2,417

$2,490 ¥16.9K

-85.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 ¥1,532

$1,192 ¥8,075

-81.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,817 ¥12.3K

$14.0K ¥94.7K

-87.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,090 ¥7,382

$6,729 ¥45.6K

-83.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$688 ¥4,660

$1,689 ¥11.4K

-59.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.4

3.58

-5.03%

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

Last update for Guizhou: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Guizhou and $933 in Shanghai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 145% 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: $19.00 in Guizhou vs $36.00 in Shanghai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $225 per month, with Guizhou cheaper across the board.

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

Guizhou vs Shanghai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Guizhou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 108% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Shanghai earns 145% less. 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: $278 in Guizhou versus $933 in Shanghai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Guizhou runs roughly 103% less than in Shanghai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $299 in Guizhou versus $1,303 in Shanghai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $582 in Guizhou versus $1,209 in Shanghai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Guizhou but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Guizhou 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, Guizhou 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 Guizhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.