Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Aydin Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Aydin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Shanghai versus $964 in Aydin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,010 in Shanghai versus $1,583 in Aydin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,773 in Shanghai versus $2,203 in Aydin.

Living in Shanghai is roughly 29% more expensive than in Aydin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shanghai 9% lower, Aydin 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.36 ¥29.29
$6.32 ₺305
-31.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.84 ¥200
$24.62 ₺1,189
21.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 ¥34.03
$8.42 ₺407
-39.79%
Cappuccino
$3.38 ¥22.71
$3.05 ₺147
10.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥3.96
$1.31 ₺63.5
-54.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.44
$0.38 ₺18.38
-5.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.16 ¥7.76
$3.19 ₺154
-63.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ¥15.95
$3.68 ₺178
-35.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 ¥13.89
$1.02 ₺49.15
102.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.97 ¥13.22
$1.11 ₺53.5
77.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 ¥6.49
$2.32 ₺112
-58.19%
Eggs
$1.68 ¥11.25
$1.91 ₺92.1
-12.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.91 ¥113
$9.28 ₺448
82.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 ¥22.72
$3.36 ₺162
0.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.15 ¥88.2
$21.41 ₺1,034
-38.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 ¥15.59
$1.96 ₺94.7
18.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 ¥11.72
$2.02 ₺97.6
-13.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 ¥13.42
$1.02 ₺49.44
96.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 ¥11.76
$1.12 ₺54.1
56.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 ¥5.48
$0.62 ₺30.06
32.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 ¥6.73
$0.47 ₺22.62
112.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ¥4.35
$0.84 ₺40.40
-22.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ¥4.35
$0.72 ₺34.77
-9.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ¥29.59
$2.33 ₺113
89.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.17 ¥75.0
$8.09 ₺391
38.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ¥6.33
$2.01 ₺97.3
-53.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥10.48
$2.81 ₺136
-44.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 ¥3.89
$0.50 ₺24.13
16.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.43 ¥197
$42.67 ₺2,062
-31.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ¥15.02
$1.63 ₺78.7
37.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 ¥2.88
$2.46 ₺119
-82.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.77 ¥58.8
$10.21 ₺493
-14.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ¥8.41
$1.28 ₺62.1
-2.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ¥132.1K
$42.1K ₺2.0M
-53.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥122.3K
$38.1K ₺1.8M
-52.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.6 ¥413
$41.79 ₺2,019
47.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.45 ¥56.7
$8.76 ₺423
-3.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.41 ¥69.9
$12.23 ₺591
-14.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 ¥467
$37.74 ₺1,823
84.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.38 ¥110
$12.80 ₺618
27.97%
Cinema Ticket
$8.84 ¥59.3
$6.71 ₺324
31.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,383 ¥9,279
$307 ₺14.8K
350.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.0K ¥181.1K
$6,810 ₺329.1K
296.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 ¥348
$57.5 ₺2,777
-9.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.86 ¥254
$52.7 ₺2,545
-28.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ¥503
$93.4 ₺4,511
-19.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ¥707
$87.2 ₺4,212
20.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 ¥6,609
$308 ₺14.9K
219.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$572 ¥3,838
$302 ₺14.6K
89.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,470 ¥16.6K
$713 ₺34.4K
246.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 ¥8,034
$647 ₺31.3K
85.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.7K ¥91.6K
$2,082 ₺100.6K
555.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,149 ¥41.3K
$1,434 ₺69.3K
328.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Aydin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,734 ¥11.6K
$982 ₺47.4K
76.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.35
49.67
-93.26%

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

Last update for Shanghai: August 30, 2026

Last update for Aydin: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Shanghai and $308 in Aydin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 77% 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: $30.00 in Shanghai vs $25.00 in Aydin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $225 per month, with Aydin cheaper across the board.

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
Shanghai vs Aydin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Shanghai and in Aydin?
Shanghai and Aydin differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $964 including rent). Aydin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Shanghai or Aydin?
Average pay runs 77% higher in Shanghai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Shanghai and in Aydin?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Shanghai versus $308 in Aydin. 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 Aydin – a meal for two runs $25.00 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: Shanghai or Aydin?
All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Shanghai versus $964 in Aydin – a 29% 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 $964 in Aydin versus $1,247 in Shanghai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aydin but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Aydin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Shanghai and Aydin?
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 Shanghai or Aydin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Shanghai and Aydin 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: Shanghai or Aydin?
Expats usually find Aydin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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