Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Beijing (Pekin) Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Beijing (Pekin)

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 4.5% more expensive than Beijing (Pekin) without rent, and 12.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 7% more expensive than Beijing (Pekin) without rent, and 8.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.85 ¥34.29

$4.11 ¥29.07

18.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.66 ¥259

$28.4 ¥201

29.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 ¥38.27

$5.31 ¥37.53

1.88%

Cappuccino

$3.53 ¥24.95

$3.11 ¥22

13.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ¥4.12

$0.46 ¥3.23

26.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.39

$0.3 ¥2.14

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.4 ¥9.92

$1.08 ¥7.64

29.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ¥19.64

$2.14 ¥15.15

29.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ¥14.91

$1.65 ¥11.7

27.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥13.01

$1.59 ¥11.25

15.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.47

$1.11 ¥7.82

-4.50%

Eggs

$1.61 ¥11.38

$1.71 ¥12.11

-5.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.27 ¥108

$15.86 ¥112

-3.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.07 ¥21.68

$3.22 ¥22.76

-4.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ¥77.4

$9.92 ¥70.2

10.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ¥16.8

$2.13 ¥15.1

11.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 ¥12.36

$1.61 ¥11.37

8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ¥12.67

$1.74 ¥12.32

2.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ¥10.38

$1.3 ¥9.16

13.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥6.04

$0.85 ¥5.99

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ¥7.88

$0.95 ¥6.75

16.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ¥4.51

$0.73 ¥5.14

-12.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.96

$0.56 ¥3.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ¥19.93

$3.41 ¥24.14

-17.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 ¥81.2

$9.79 ¥69.2

17.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥5.53

$0.87 ¥6.17

-10.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ¥11.56

$1.82 ¥12.85

-10.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥3.09

$0.54 ¥3.84

-18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.77 ¥246

$31.59 ¥223

10.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 ¥15.61

$1.79 ¥12.63

23.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.4 ¥2.85

$0.33 ¥2.32

21.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.33 ¥58.9

$10.55 ¥74.6

-21.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥7.68

$1.08 ¥7.63

0.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.7K ¥139.3K

$18.4K ¥129.9K

7.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.1K ¥127.9K

$15.5K ¥109.8K

16.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$51.8 ¥366

$52.2 ¥369

-0.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.81 ¥62.3

$8.95 ¥63.3

-1.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.66 ¥96.6

$12.78 ¥90.4

6.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.59 ¥329

$50 ¥354

-6.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.95 ¥141

$18.1 ¥128

10.22%

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 ¥60.6

$8.29 ¥58.6

3.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,267 ¥8,958

$675 ¥4,775

87.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32K ¥226.3K

$23.4K ¥165.4K

36.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ¥413

$62.4 ¥441

-6.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.88 ¥268

$34.05 ¥241

11.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 ¥541

$77.9 ¥551

-1.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 ¥678

$101 ¥717

-5.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$961 ¥6,798

$908 ¥6,419

5.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 ¥3,958

$452 ¥3,196

23.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 ¥17.7K

$1,925 ¥13.6K

30.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 ¥8,426

$1,101 ¥7,787

8.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.3K ¥100.8K

$14.4K ¥102.1K

-1.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,164 ¥50.7K

$6,035 ¥42.7K

18.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,553 ¥11K

$1,440 ¥10.2K

7.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

3.64

-1.65%

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

Last update for Shanghai: November 29, 2025

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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