Cost of Living Comparison Between Hangzhou and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Hangzhou and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Hangzhou is 7.1% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 25.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Hangzhou is 6.7% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 22.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52 ¥25.23
$4.73 ¥33.92
-25.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.99 ¥186
$36.17 ¥259
-28.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 ¥35.48
$5.6 ¥40.18
-11.61%
Cappuccino
$3.4 ¥24.41
$3.56 ¥25.53
-4.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.7
$0.54 ¥3.9
-3.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.36 ¥2.59
-19.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.12 ¥8.06
$1.43 ¥10.25
-21.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ¥11.89
$2.76 ¥19.81
-39.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ¥14.56
$2.18 ¥15.66
-6.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.9 ¥13.61
$1.81 ¥13
4.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.63
$1.1 ¥7.9
-16.36%
Eggs
$1.71 ¥12.29
$1.69 ¥12.1
1.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.18 ¥123
$15.79 ¥113
8.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.68 ¥19.24
$3.17 ¥22.76
-15.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.82 ¥70.5
$10.88 ¥78.1
-9.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 ¥14.1
$2.26 ¥16.24
-12.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 ¥12.85
$1.67 ¥11.98
7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ¥11.75
$1.78 ¥12.78
-7.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 ¥8.9
$1.52 ¥10.94
-18.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ¥5.52
$0.85 ¥6.09
-9.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 ¥7.06
$1.17 ¥8.37
-16.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.87
$0.68 ¥4.84
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.79
$0.6 ¥4.29
-11.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 ¥30.75
$2.87 ¥20.56
49.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.55 ¥90
$11.16 ¥80
12.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ¥5.37
$0.8 ¥5.73
-6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥11.67
$1.56 ¥11.22
4.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.5 ¥3.6
$0.4 ¥2.89
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.59 ¥112
$35.15 ¥252
-55.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ¥12.83
$2.29 ¥16.45
-21.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 ¥3.07
$0.37 ¥2.69
16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.23 ¥44.69
$8.14 ¥58.4
-23.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ¥8.14
$1.09 ¥7.81
3.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ¥138.6K
$19.5K ¥140.1K
-1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥120.1K
$18.2K ¥130.5K
-8.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.69 ¥313
$51.6 ¥370
-15.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.59 ¥83.2
$8.68 ¥62.2
33.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.65 ¥134
$13.5 ¥96.8
38.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 ¥433
$46.42 ¥333
30.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.39 ¥118
$20.44 ¥147
-19.81%
Cinema Ticket
$6.39 ¥45.81
$8.58 ¥61.5
-25.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$447 ¥3,206
$1,307 ¥9,378
-65.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.8K ¥206.2K
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-8.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ¥407
$58.8 ¥422
-3.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.56 ¥255
$36.99 ¥265
-3.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$77.7 ¥558
-7.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.1 ¥668
$98.5 ¥706
-5.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$518 ¥3,712
$952 ¥6,827
-45.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$299 ¥2,144
$574 ¥4,115
-47.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,136 ¥8,148
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-54.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 ¥4,754
$1,201 ¥8,614
-44.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,808 ¥56K
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-45.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,275 ¥30.7K
$7,106 ¥51K
-39.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hangzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,309 ¥9,389
$1,534 ¥11K
-14.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.83
3.58
6.98%

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

Last update for Hangzhou: October 28, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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