Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Baotou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Baotou

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 32.5% more expensive than Baotou without rent, and 68.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 31.2% more expensive than Baotou without rent, and 66.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.72 ¥19.52
73.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$24.67 ¥177
46.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$6.8 ¥48.77
-17.65%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.17 ¥22.73
12.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.61 ¥4.38
-11.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.36 ¥2.57
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.41 ¥10.1
1.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.07 ¥14.85
33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.76 ¥12.6
23.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.55 ¥11.13
16.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.61 ¥4.36
80.33%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$2.21 ¥15.84
-23.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$12.99 ¥93.2
21.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.13 ¥22.46
1.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.41 ¥74.7
4.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.8 ¥12.94
25.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.2 ¥8.6
39.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.41 ¥10.08
26.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.08 ¥7.78
40.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.68 ¥4.84
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.92 ¥6.6
27.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.57 ¥4.05
19.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.55 ¥3.95
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.19 ¥22.88
-10.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$11.07 ¥79.4
0.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.78 ¥5.61
2.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.66 ¥11.89
-6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.08
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$16.83 ¥121
108.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$0.96 ¥6.87
138.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.32 ¥2.33
15.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.77 ¥48.53
20.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.14 ¥8.19
-4.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.2K ¥138K
1.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.8K ¥120.6K
8.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$46.42 ¥333
11.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$9.69 ¥69.5
-10.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$8.94 ¥64.1
51.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$42.39 ¥304
9.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$13.78 ¥98.8
48.33%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.14 ¥44.02
39.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$341 ¥2,448
283.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$17K ¥122K
84.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$60.1 ¥431
-2.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$33.02 ¥237
12.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$69.4 ¥498
12.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$82.5 ¥592
19.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$273 ¥1,959
248.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$184 ¥1,321
211.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$602 ¥4,317
318.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$367 ¥2,631
227.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,776 ¥19.9K
418.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,209 ¥15.8K
221.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Baotou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$640 ¥4,589
139.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.87
-7.49%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Baotou: October 26, 2025

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