Cost of Living Comparison Between Ningbo and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ningbo and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Ningbo is 1.6% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 31.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ningbo is 6.6% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 32% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14 ¥22.55
$4.73 ¥33.92
-33.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.13 ¥173
$36.17 ¥259
-33.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.07 ¥29.17
$5.6 ¥40.18
-27.32%
Cappuccino
$3.15 ¥22.6
$3.56 ¥25.53
-11.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ¥3.23
$0.54 ¥3.9
-16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ¥1.85
$0.36 ¥2.59
-27.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ¥6.67
$1.43 ¥10.25
-34.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ¥15.2
$2.76 ¥19.81
-23.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ¥14.8
$2.18 ¥15.66
-5.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.74 ¥19.69
$1.81 ¥13
51.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.66
$1.1 ¥7.9
-28.18%
Eggs
$1.39 ¥9.96
$1.69 ¥12.1
-17.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.65 ¥148
$15.79 ¥113
30.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 ¥34.25
$3.17 ¥22.76
50.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12 ¥86.1
$10.88 ¥78.1
10.29%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ¥13.86
$2.26 ¥16.24
-14.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 ¥10.2
$1.67 ¥11.98
-14.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ¥16.46
$1.78 ¥12.78
28.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ¥8.25
$1.52 ¥10.94
-24.34%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ¥4.78
$0.85 ¥6.09
-21.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.63
$1.17 ¥8.37
-32.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥4.2
$0.68 ¥4.84
-13.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ¥4.06
$0.6 ¥4.29
-5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ¥38.95
$2.87 ¥20.56
89.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.24 ¥80.6
$11.16 ¥80
0.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.1 ¥7.86
$0.8 ¥5.73
37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ¥14.21
$1.56 ¥11.22
26.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥2.09
$0.4 ¥2.89
-27.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.49 ¥118
$35.15 ¥252
-53.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.7 ¥12.16
$2.29 ¥16.45
-25.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.37 ¥2.69
-5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.23 ¥51.8
$8.14 ¥58.4
-11.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$1.09 ¥7.81
9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ¥153.3K
$19.5K ¥140.1K
9.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ¥139.3K
$18.2K ¥130.5K
6.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.7 ¥464
$51.6 ¥370
25.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.55 ¥112
$8.68 ¥62.2
79.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.01 ¥50.3
$13.5 ¥96.8
-48.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.86 ¥157
$46.42 ¥333
-52.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.75 ¥91.4
$20.44 ¥147
-37.62%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12 ¥58.2
$8.58 ¥61.5
-5.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 ¥4,325
$1,307 ¥9,378
-53.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.5K ¥111.1K
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-50.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.38 ¥304
$58.8 ¥422
-27.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.76 ¥213
$36.99 ¥265
-19.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.3 ¥504
$77.7 ¥558
-9.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.5 ¥441
$98.5 ¥706
-37.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 ¥2,695
$952 ¥6,827
-60.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 ¥1,880
$574 ¥4,115
-54.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$853 ¥6,119
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-66.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$485 ¥3,482
$1,201 ¥8,614
-59.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,862 ¥34.9K
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-66.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,244 ¥23.3K
$7,106 ¥51K
-54.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ningbo
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$848 ¥6,084
$1,534 ¥11K
-44.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
3.58
35.47%

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

Last update for Ningbo: October 27, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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