Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Miyazaki and Shanghai

For one person, living is cheaper in Miyazaki: $1,101 a month against $1,244 in Shanghai, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Shanghai outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Miyazaki
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,101
/mo nomad
Shanghai
🇨🇳 China
$1,244
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Miyazaki and in Shanghai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Miyazaki and in Shanghai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,101 in Miyazaki versus $1,244 in Shanghai.

  • Miyazaki $1,101
  • Shanghai $1,244

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,713 in Miyazaki versus $1,999 in Shanghai.

  • Miyazaki $1,713
  • Shanghai $1,999

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,326 in Miyazaki versus $2,755 in Shanghai.

  • Miyazaki $2,326
  • Shanghai $2,755

Living in Miyazaki costs roughly 11% less than in Shanghai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Miyazaki 18% lower, Shanghai 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.09 ¥962
$4.56 ¥30.47
33.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.09 ¥4,280
$30.21 ¥202
-10.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.64 ¥734
$5.25 ¥35.13
-11.62%
Cappuccino
$2.27 ¥359
$3.28 ¥21.94
-30.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ¥166
$0.57 ¥3.84
84.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ¥97.6
$0.36 ¥2.39
72.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 ¥247
$1.23 ¥8.23
26.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 ¥359
$2.27 ¥15.18
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 ¥205
$1.84 ¥12.30
-29.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 ¥246
$1.96 ¥13.08
-20.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.55 ¥403
$1.03 ¥6.87
147.57%
Eggs
$2.09 ¥330
$1.67 ¥11.16
25.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.78 ¥2,020
$16.96 ¥113
-24.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.48 ¥866
$3.19 ¥21.33
71.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.80 ¥2,970
$12.90 ¥86.3
45.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 ¥561
$2.24 ¥15.00
58.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 ¥278
$1.66 ¥11.13
6.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.81 ¥444
$2.02 ¥13.54
39.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 ¥512
$1.66 ¥11.08
95.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 ¥293
$0.77 ¥5.17
141.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 ¥303
$0.93 ¥6.21
106.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ¥103
$0.63 ¥4.19
3.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ¥145
$0.60 ¥3.99
53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 ¥636
$3.80 ¥25.44
5.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.13 ¥969
$10.87 ¥72.7
-43.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ¥267
$0.82 ¥5.51
106.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ¥290
$1.61 ¥10.76
14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.50 ¥236
$0.61 ¥4.11
145.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.4 ¥9,534
$29.40 ¥197
105.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.39 ¥535
$2.11 ¥14.11
60.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 ¥316
$0.43 ¥2.87
365.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.12 ¥2,547
$9.06 ¥60.6
77.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥167
$1.33 ¥8.89
-20.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ¥3.4M
$19.0K ¥127.2K
14.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K ¥2.4M
$18.7K ¥125.1K
-18.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 ¥16.9K
$57.8 ¥387
85.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.40 ¥3,854
$8.09 ¥54.1
201.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64 ¥5,314
$10.48 ¥70.0
220.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.02 ¥7,587
$65.7 ¥439
-26.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.82 ¥119
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.09 ¥1,752
$8.95 ¥59.9
23.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$125 ¥19.7K
$1,414 ¥9,451
-91.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ¥2.0M
$27.9K ¥186.2K
-55.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.06 ¥7,593
$54.0 ¥361
-10.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.09 ¥3,963
$37.09 ¥248
-32.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.2 ¥9,034
$74.3 ¥496
-22.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.45 ¥7,339
$106 ¥706
-56.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$534 ¥84.4K
$1,055 ¥7,056
-49.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$325 ¥51.3K
$585 ¥3,910
-44.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,172 ¥185.2K
$2,485 ¥16.6K
-52.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 ¥104.0K
$1,232 ¥8,240
-46.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,471 ¥706.4K
$13.9K ¥93.1K
-67.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,915 ¥302.6K
$6,253 ¥41.8K
-69.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Miyazaki
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,253 ¥198.0K
$1,711 ¥11.4K
-26.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.97
3.36
-41.37%

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

Last update for Miyazaki: October 12, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Miyazaki
$325
Shanghai
$585 79.9% $260
Groceries & Markets
Miyazaki
$272
Shanghai
$235 13.8% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Miyazaki
$165
Shanghai
$76 53.8% $89
Eating Out
Miyazaki
$109
Shanghai
$106 2.7% $2.9
Getting Around
Miyazaki
$80
Shanghai
$36 54.7% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Miyazaki
$80
Shanghai
$122 53.2% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Miyazaki
$70
Shanghai
$84 19.1% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $534 in Miyazaki and $1,055 in Shanghai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 37% 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: $27.00 in Miyazaki vs $30.00 in Shanghai. Groceries flip the comparison at $272 vs $235, with Shanghai cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Miyazaki
🇨🇳 Shanghai
🕒 Local time
14:22 2:22 PM
13:22 1:22 PM
1 h behind Miyazaki
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
401,339
24,870,895
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Miyazaki Shanghai 950 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Miyazaki
  • Shanghai

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Miyazaki vs Shanghai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Miyazaki and in Shanghai?
Miyazaki and Shanghai differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,101 vs $1,244 including rent). Miyazaki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Shanghai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Miyazaki and in Shanghai?
Rent for a central apartment: $534 in Miyazaki versus $1,055 in Shanghai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Miyazaki – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $30.00 in Shanghai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Miyazaki or Shanghai?
All in, you'll spend $1,101 per month in Miyazaki versus $1,244 in Shanghai – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,101 in Miyazaki versus $1,244 in Shanghai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Miyazaki but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Miyazaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Miyazaki and 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.
Is Miyazaki or Shanghai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Miyazaki 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.
Where should expats move: Miyazaki or Shanghai?
Expats usually find Miyazaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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