Cost of Living Comparison Between Harbin and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Harbin and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Harbin is 11.8% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 29.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Harbin is 2.5% more expensive than Shanghai without rent, and 28% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 ¥20.13

$4.73 ¥33.92

-40.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.29 ¥153

$36.17 ¥259

-41.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 ¥37.74

$5.6 ¥40.18

-6.07%

Cappuccino

$2.67 ¥19.13

$3.56 ¥25.53

-25.00%

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

$0.45 ¥3.2

$0.54 ¥3.9

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.92

$0.36 ¥2.59

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.89 ¥6.38

$1.43 ¥10.25

-37.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥12.35

$2.76 ¥19.81

-37.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ¥13.39

$2.18 ¥15.66

-14.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 ¥13.57

$1.81 ¥13

4.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ¥6.84

$1.1 ¥7.9

-13.64%

Eggs

$1.28 ¥9.21

$1.69 ¥12.1

-24.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.41 ¥74.7

$15.79 ¥113

-34.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ¥26.27

$3.17 ¥22.76

15.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.87 ¥78

$10.88 ¥78.1

-0.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 ¥18.09

$2.26 ¥16.24

11.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 ¥12.49

$1.67 ¥11.98

4.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 ¥17.43

$1.78 ¥12.78

36.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.54

$1.52 ¥10.94

-30.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 ¥5.57

$0.85 ¥6.09

-8.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 ¥12.7

$1.17 ¥8.37

51.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 ¥2.63

$0.68 ¥4.84

-45.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ¥5.27

$0.6 ¥4.29

21.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ¥17.44

$2.87 ¥20.56

-15.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.82 ¥84.8

$11.16 ¥80

5.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥4.21

$0.8 ¥5.73

-26.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ¥16.92

$1.56 ¥11.22

51.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ¥1.92

$0.4 ¥2.89

-32.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.7 ¥76.7

$35.15 ¥252

-69.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 ¥9.18

$2.29 ¥16.45

-44.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.53

$0.37 ¥2.69

-5.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.57 ¥68.7

$8.14 ¥58.4

17.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥8.31

$1.09 ¥7.81

6.42%

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

$13.8K ¥99.2K

$19.5K ¥140.1K

-29.25%

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

$12.5K ¥89.6K

$18.2K ¥130.5K

-31.38%

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

$56 ¥401

$51.6 ¥370

8.55%

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

$13.71 ¥98.3

$8.68 ¥62.2

57.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.73 ¥113

$13.5 ¥96.8

16.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95 ¥682

$46.42 ¥333

104.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.68 ¥199

$20.44 ¥147

35.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.47 ¥39.24

$8.58 ¥61.5

-36.25%

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

$229 ¥1,643

$1,307 ¥9,378

-82.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K ¥76.4K

$31.4K ¥225.4K

-66.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 ¥499

$58.8 ¥422

18.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.6 ¥212

$36.99 ¥265

-19.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 ¥553

$77.7 ¥558

-0.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 ¥1,101

$98.5 ¥706

55.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 ¥2,166

$952 ¥6,827

-68.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 ¥1,606

$574 ¥4,115

-60.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 ¥9,479

$2,518 ¥18.1K

-47.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 ¥3,452

$1,201 ¥8,614

-59.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,974 ¥21.3K

$14.4K ¥103.2K

-79.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,271 ¥9,119

$7,106 ¥51K

-82.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$870 ¥6,240

$1,534 ¥11K

-43.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.79

3.58

61.73%

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

Last update for Harbin: October 27, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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