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

😐 Solo nomad: Harbin is 13.2% more expensive than Shanghai without rent, and 24.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Harbin is 7.8% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 28.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.86 ¥19.98
$4.77 ¥33.30
-40.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.69 ¥144
$35.92 ¥251
-42.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.04 ¥35.15
$5.45 ¥38.01
-7.52%
Cappuccino
$2.69 ¥18.79
$3.42 ¥23.89
-21.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.08
$0.58 ¥4.07
-24.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.87
$0.34 ¥2.35
-20.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 ¥6.24
$1.42 ¥9.91
-37.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ¥12.48
$2.80 ¥19.56
-36.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ¥13.45
$2.09 ¥14.59
-7.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 ¥13.18
$1.85 ¥12.92
2.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ¥6.29
$1.10 ¥7.66
-18.18%
Eggs
$1.28 ¥8.97
$1.60 ¥11.20
-20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.40 ¥72.6
$15.28 ¥107
-31.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.67 ¥25.62
$3.08 ¥21.53
19.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.60 ¥74.0
$10.85 ¥75.8
-2.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ¥16.70
$2.33 ¥16.30
2.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.64
$1.77 ¥12.35
2.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 ¥17.07
$1.78 ¥12.42
37.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 ¥7.54
$1.47 ¥10.28
-26.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ¥5.68
$0.81 ¥5.64
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.73 ¥12.05
$1.16 ¥8.10
49.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 ¥2.37
$0.63 ¥4.37
-46.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ¥5.60
$0.60 ¥4.17
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 ¥16.86
$2.77 ¥19.35
-13.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.30 ¥121
$11.49 ¥80.2
50.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.01
$0.84 ¥5.86
-30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 ¥16.09
$1.61 ¥11.27
42.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ¥1.86
$0.40 ¥2.79
-32.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.58 ¥73.8
$34.13 ¥238
-69.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 ¥8.90
$2.29 ¥15.98
-44.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.45
$0.38 ¥2.63
-7.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.94 ¥69.4
$8.32 ¥58.1
19.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥7.85
$1.15 ¥8.00
-2.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ¥97.0K
$19.7K ¥137.2K
-29.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.7K ¥88.8K
$18.3K ¥127.5K
-30.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.1 ¥398
$52.1 ¥363
9.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.98 ¥97.6
$8.79 ¥61.3
59.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.78 ¥110
$13.87 ¥96.8
13.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$92.4 ¥645
$46.42 ¥324
98.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.46 ¥192
$19.78 ¥138
38.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.47 ¥38.20
$8.28 ¥57.8
-33.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$229 ¥1,595
$1,297 ¥9,056
-82.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K ¥72.7K
$30.9K ¥215.7K
-66.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.4 ¥492
$59.8 ¥417
17.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.87 ¥202
$38.03 ¥265
-24.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 ¥542
$77.5 ¥541
0.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 ¥1,083
$99.3 ¥693
56.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 ¥2,108
$944 ¥6,591
-68.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$225 ¥1,569
$570 ¥3,981
-60.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,317 ¥9,195
$2,460 ¥17.2K
-46.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$490 ¥3,419
$1,204 ¥8,401
-59.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,098 ¥21.6K
$14.2K ¥99.5K
-78.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,271 ¥8,875
$7,080 ¥49.4K
-82.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Harbin
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$889 ¥6,203
$1,632 ¥11.4K
-45.55%
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: January 12, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: January 10, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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