Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Beihai Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Beihai

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 11.2% more expensive than Beihai without rent, and 74.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 18.6% more expensive than Beihai without rent, and 73% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.77 ¥19.84
70.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$21.04 ¥151
71.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.97 ¥35.62
12.68%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.04 ¥21.79
17.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.43 ¥3.09
25.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.27 ¥1.91
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.94 ¥6.74
52.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.04 ¥14.62
35.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.84 ¥13.16
18.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.59 ¥11.44
13.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.89 ¥6.38
23.60%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.64 ¥11.78
3.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$13.07 ¥93.7
20.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.17 ¥22.7
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.07 ¥72.2
8.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.71 ¥12.26
32.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.25 ¥8.95
33.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.42 ¥10.22
25.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.08 ¥7.73
40.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.67 ¥4.82
26.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.97 ¥6.98
20.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.6 ¥4.31
13.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.51 ¥3.68
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.08 ¥22.08
-6.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$10.93 ¥78.4
2.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.81 ¥5.79
-1.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.64 ¥11.74
-4.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.11
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$16.82 ¥121
108.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.43 ¥10.26
60.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.36 ¥2.56
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.83 ¥49.02
19.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.18 ¥8.49
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.7K ¥141K
-0.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.5K ¥118.3K
10.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$45.24 ¥325
13.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$9.56 ¥68.6
-9.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.68 ¥83.8
15.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$42.39 ¥304
9.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$14 ¥100
46.00%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.44 ¥46.2
33.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$341 ¥2,444
283.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$17K ¥121.7K
85.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$44.27 ¥318
32.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$29.94 ¥215
23.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$71.9 ¥515
8.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$74.4 ¥533
32.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$282 ¥2,024
237.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$185 ¥1,325
210.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$589 ¥4,228
327.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$355 ¥2,545
238.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,974 ¥21.3K
383.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,204 ¥15.8K
222.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Beihai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
-
-
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 Beihai: October 29, 2025

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