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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 7.7% more expensive than Beijing (Pekin) without rent, and 11.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 9.1% more expensive than Beijing (Pekin) without rent, and 8.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$4.09 ¥27.96

21.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$28.09 ¥192

28.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$5.36 ¥36.62

1.12%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$3.05 ¥20.81

16.72%

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

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.46 ¥3.14

15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.30 ¥2.05

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$1.13 ¥7.70

19.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$2.12 ¥14.46

30.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$1.71 ¥11.71

24.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$1.65 ¥11.27

11.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$1.12 ¥7.64

-6.25%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$1.67 ¥11.39

0.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$15.67 ¥107

-0.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$3.22 ¥21.99

0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$9.64 ¥65.9

12.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$2.10 ¥14.35

12.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$1.59 ¥10.89

6.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$1.34 ¥9.13

10.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.85 ¥5.79

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.90 ¥6.17

30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.72 ¥4.90

-13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.57 ¥3.87

7.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$3.58 ¥24.42

-21.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$10.60 ¥72.4

12.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$0.85 ¥5.82

-7.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.74 ¥11.88

-9.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.59 ¥4.01

-25.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$31.30 ¥214

11.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.80 ¥12.26

24.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.35 ¥2.40

8.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$10.34 ¥70.6

-20.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.14 ¥7.78

0.88%

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

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$18.8K ¥128.4K

5.80%

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

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$15.8K ¥107.9K

12.83%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$51.2 ¥350

1.87%

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

$8.70 ¥59.4

$9.00 ¥61.5

-3.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$12.44 ¥84.9

9.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$49.97 ¥341

-7.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$18.24 ¥125

12.12%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$8.51 ¥58.1

-2.94%

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

$1,266 ¥8,649

$683 ¥4,665

85.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$23.8K ¥162.9K

33.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$61.5 ¥420

-2.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$34.26 ¥234

11.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$77.7 ¥531

-0.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$102 ¥695

-5.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$914 ¥6,242

3.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$458 ¥3,129

24.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$1,918 ¥13.1K

28.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$1,085 ¥7,409

11.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$12.1K ¥82.7K

16.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$6,141 ¥41.9K

17.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$1,581 ¥10.8K

6.35%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Beijing (Pekin): April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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