🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $707 in Kaifeng versus $1,220 in Shanghai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,091 in Kaifeng versus $1,946 in Shanghai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,476 in Kaifeng versus $2,672 in Shanghai.
🙂Living in Kaifeng costs roughly 42% less than in Shanghai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kaifeng47% lower, Shanghai9% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85¥19.52
$4.73¥32.39
-39.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.97¥95.7
$36.90¥253
-62.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.20¥28.76
$5.41¥37.03
-22.37%
Cappuccino
$2.10¥14.36
$3.42¥23.41
-38.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47¥3.20
$0.55¥3.76
-14.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20¥1.37
$0.34¥2.32
-41.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10¥7.56
$1.41¥9.63
-21.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06¥14.09
$2.87¥19.67
-28.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84¥12.62
$2.08¥14.23
-11.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥11.07
$1.80¥12.30
-10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90¥6.20
$1.05¥7.18
-14.29%
Eggs
$1.64¥11.26
$1.63¥11.14
0.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86¥88.1
$15.36¥105
-16.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18¥21.76
$3.08¥21.10
3.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.23¥70.0
$10.97¥75.1
-6.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81¥12.39
$2.37¥16.24
-23.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21¥8.29
$1.77¥12.13
-31.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.65¥4.44
$1.73¥11.88
-62.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12¥7.69
$1.47¥10.05
-23.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69¥4.71
$0.78¥5.37
-11.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.64
$1.13¥7.71
-14.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59¥4.06
$0.68¥4.63
-13.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.75
$0.60¥4.10
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06¥20.98
$2.82¥19.28
8.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.42¥98.7
$11.86¥81.2
21.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.46
$0.80¥5.45
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57¥10.77
$1.60¥10.98
-1.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.84
$0.44¥3.00
-38.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.39¥112
$35.13¥241
-53.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41¥9.65
$2.20¥15.09
-35.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33¥2.25
$0.41¥2.80
-19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.62¥45.31
$8.25¥56.5
-19.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.78
$1.10¥7.56
3.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥133.1K
$19.8K¥135.7K
-1.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K¥113.2K
$18.1K¥124.2K
-8.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.78¥320
$51.3¥351
-8.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.53¥65.3
$8.47¥58.0
12.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.64¥79.8
$13.92¥95.4
-16.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.23¥282
$46.61¥319
-11.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.00¥95.9
$20.15¥138
-30.52%
Cinema Ticket
$6.35¥43.53
$8.26¥56.6
-23.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$335¥2,296
$1,309¥8,969
-74.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.3K¥118.3K
$32.0K¥219.3K
-46.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.58¥299
$58.2¥399
-25.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.93¥212
$38.09¥261
-18.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.8¥499
$78.9¥540
-7.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2¥502
$96.4¥660
-24.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$273¥1,872
$963¥6,595
-71.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$188¥1,288
$563¥3,859
-66.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595¥4,073
$2,490¥17.1K
-76.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367¥2,513
$1,197¥8,198
-69.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,144¥21.5K
$13.8K¥94.9K
-77.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,984¥13.6K
$7,279¥49.9K
-72.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaifeng
Shanghai
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635¥4,348
$1,671¥11.4K
-62.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
3.58
8.10%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Kaifeng: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Shanghai: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $273 in Kaifeng and $963 in Shanghai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shanghai pays 163% 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: $14.00 in Kaifeng vs $37.00 in Shanghai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $226 per month, with Kaifeng cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Kaifeng vs Shanghai: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Kaifeng or Shanghai?
Kaifeng wins on cost – living expenses run 73% lower than in Shanghai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kaifeng the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kaifeng or Shanghai?
On paper, Shanghai earns 163% 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 Kaifeng vs Shanghai?
Rent for a central apartment: $273 in Kaifeng versus $963 in Shanghai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kaifeng vs Shanghai?
Dining out is cheaper in Kaifeng – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $37.00 in Shanghai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kaifeng compared to Shanghai?
All in, you'll spend $707 per month in Kaifeng versus $1,220 in Shanghai – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kaifeng or Shanghai?
At $707 in Kaifeng versus $1,220 in Shanghai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kaifeng but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Kaifeng the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kaifeng 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kaifeng gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kaifeng vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado