Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyoto and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyoto and Shanghai

😐 Solo nomad: Kyoto is 28.1% more expensive than Shanghai without rent, and 7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Kyoto is 28.5% more expensive than Shanghai without rent, and 11% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.38 ¥1,615

$4.85 ¥34.29

114.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.46 ¥5,360

$36.66 ¥259

-6.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.39 ¥838

$5.41 ¥38.27

-0.37%

Cappuccino

$3.37 ¥524

$3.53 ¥24.95

-4.53%

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

$0.92 ¥143

$0.58 ¥4.12

58.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥116

$0.34 ¥2.39

117.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 ¥533

$1.4 ¥9.92

144.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.56 ¥1,021

$2.78 ¥19.64

135.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.7 ¥264

$2.11 ¥14.91

-19.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 ¥270

$1.84 ¥13.01

-5.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.06 ¥476

$1.06 ¥7.47

188.68%

Eggs

$2.26 ¥351

$1.61 ¥11.38

40.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.75 ¥1,516

$15.27 ¥108

-36.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.86 ¥1,222

$3.07 ¥21.68

156.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.71 ¥2,444

$10.94 ¥77.4

43.60%

Apples (1kg)

$5.46 ¥850

$2.38 ¥16.8

129.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 ¥400

$1.75 ¥12.36

46.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.55 ¥1,018

$1.79 ¥12.67

265.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.83 ¥596

$1.47 ¥10.38

160.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 ¥250

$0.85 ¥6.04

89.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 ¥362

$1.11 ¥7.88

109.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ¥201

$0.64 ¥4.51

101.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥158

$0.56 ¥3.96

80.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 ¥642

$2.82 ¥19.93

46.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.75 ¥1,205

$11.49 ¥81.2

-32.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ¥277

$0.78 ¥5.53

128.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ¥580

$1.63 ¥11.56

128.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.66 ¥259

$0.44 ¥3.09

277.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.5 ¥10.8K

$34.77 ¥246

99.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ¥555

$2.21 ¥15.61

61.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.92 ¥454

$0.4 ¥2.85

630.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.95 ¥2,792

$8.33 ¥58.9

115.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥192

$1.09 ¥7.68

13.76%

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

$23K ¥3.6M

$19.7K ¥139.3K

16.90%

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

$17.3K ¥2.7M

$18.1K ¥127.9K

-4.27%

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

$113 ¥17.5K

$51.8 ¥366

117.58%

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

$26.27 ¥4,086

$8.81 ¥62.3

198.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.81 ¥5,259

$13.66 ¥96.6

147.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57 ¥8,864

$46.59 ¥329

22.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 ¥3,244

$19.95 ¥141

4.56%

Cinema Ticket

$13.07 ¥2,034

$8.58 ¥60.6

52.33%

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

$364 ¥56.6K

$1,267 ¥8,958

-71.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,541 ¥1.2M

$32K ¥226.3K

-76.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.11 ¥7,017

$58.4 ¥413

-22.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.88 ¥4,958

$37.88 ¥268

-15.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ¥11.3K

$76.5 ¥541

-5.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.1 ¥14K

$95.9 ¥678

-6.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 ¥91K

$961 ¥6,798

-39.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 ¥54.5K

$560 ¥3,958

-37.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,669 ¥259.6K

$2,502 ¥17.7K

-33.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$916 ¥142.5K

$1,192 ¥8,426

-23.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.3K ¥100.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,164 ¥50.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,793 ¥278.9K

$1,553 ¥11K

15.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.78

3.58

-50.28%

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

Last update for Kyoto: December 2, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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