🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $858 in Haskovo versus $1,220 in Shanghai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,376 in Haskovo versus $1,946 in Shanghai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,895 in Haskovo versus $2,672 in Shanghai.
🙂Living in Haskovo costs roughly 30% less than in Shanghai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Haskovo36% lower, Shanghai9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.86BGN 16.46
$4.73¥32.39
108.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.83BGN 68.2
$36.90¥253
10.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.61BGN 14.38
$5.41¥37.03
59.15%
Cappuccino
$2.08BGN 3.47
$3.42¥23.41
-39.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23BGN 2.05
$0.55¥3.76
123.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70BGN 1.17
$0.34¥2.32
105.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32BGN 2.20
$1.41¥9.63
-6.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01BGN 5.03
$2.87¥19.67
4.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66BGN 2.76
$2.08¥14.23
-20.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71BGN 1.19
$1.80¥12.30
-60.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73BGN 2.89
$1.05¥7.18
64.76%
Eggs
$3.31BGN 5.53
$1.63¥11.14
103.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.19BGN 15.35
$15.36¥105
-40.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.59BGN 12.67
$3.08¥21.10
146.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.59BGN 14.34
$10.97¥75.1
-21.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67BGN 2.79
$2.37¥16.24
-29.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02BGN 3.37
$1.77¥12.13
14.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47BGN 2.45
$1.73¥11.88
-15.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81BGN 3.03
$1.47¥10.05
23.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86BGN 1.44
$0.78¥5.37
10.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22BGN 2.04
$1.13¥7.71
7.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82BGN 1.37
$0.68¥4.63
20.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70BGN 1.17
$0.60¥4.10
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.62BGN 6.05
$2.82¥19.28
28.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.35BGN 12.28
$11.86¥81.2
-38.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80BGN 1.33
$0.80¥5.45
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74BGN 2.91
$1.60¥10.98
8.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87BGN 1.45
$0.44¥3.00
97.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.31BGN 38.93
$35.13¥241
-33.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16BGN 1.94
$2.20¥15.09
-47.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66BGN 1.11
$0.41¥2.80
60.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.21BGN 22.07
$8.25¥56.5
60.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56BGN 2.61
$1.10¥7.56
41.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KBGN 48.5K
$19.8K¥135.7K
46.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KBGN 40.1K
$18.1K¥124.2K
32.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.3BGN 161
$51.3¥351
87.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.05BGN 21.79
$8.47¥58.0
54.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.05BGN 16.79
$13.92¥95.4
-27.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9BGN 93.3
$46.61¥319
19.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37BGN 49.05
$20.15¥138
45.76%
Cinema Ticket
$8.39BGN 14.02
$8.26¥56.6
1.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$235BGN 392
$1,309¥8,969
-82.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,371BGN 3,960
$32.0K¥219.3K
-92.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.49BGN 79.3
$58.2¥399
-18.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.00BGN 70.1
$38.09¥261
10.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7BGN 133
$78.9¥540
1.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.4BGN 119
$96.4¥660
-25.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$233BGN 390
$963¥6,595
-75.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$169BGN 282
$563¥3,859
-70.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$378BGN 631
$2,490¥17.1K
-84.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313BGN 522
$1,197¥8,198
-73.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,296BGN 2,164
$13.8K¥94.9K
-90.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,029BGN 1,718
$7,279¥49.9K
-85.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haskovo
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$832BGN 1,389
$1,671¥11.4K
-50.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.57
3.58
27.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haskovo: April 26, 2026
Last update for Shanghai: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $233 in Haskovo and $963 in Shanghai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shanghai pays 101% 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: $41.00 in Haskovo vs $37.00 in Shanghai. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $226, with Haskovo 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
Haskovo vs Shanghai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haskovo or Shanghai?
Haskovo wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Shanghai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Haskovo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Haskovo or Shanghai?
On paper, Shanghai earns 101% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Haskovo vs Shanghai?
Rent for a central apartment: $233 in Haskovo versus $963 in Shanghai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Haskovo or Shanghai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Shanghai. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Haskovo vs Shanghai?
Dining out is cheaper in Haskovo – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $37.00 in Shanghai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Haskovo or Shanghai?
At $858 in Haskovo versus $1,220 in Shanghai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Haskovo but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Haskovo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Haskovo or Shanghai?
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.
How safe is Haskovo compared to Shanghai?
Safety-wise, Haskovo 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Haskovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.