Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Benxi Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Benxi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,206 per month in Shanghai vs $671 in Benxi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,958 per month in Shanghai vs $949 in Benxi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Shanghai vs $1,227 in Benxi, rent included.

Shanghai costs about 80% more than Benxi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shanghai and Benxi are more affordable than the global median – Shanghai 10% lower, Benxi 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.75 ¥32.12

$2.74 ¥18.51

73.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 ¥246

$20.54 ¥139

76.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥36.62

$4.85 ¥32.76

11.75%

Cappuccino

$3.54 ¥23.97

$2.64 ¥17.88

34.09%

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

$0.54 ¥3.67

$0.45 ¥3.07

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.26

$0.29 ¥1.96

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ¥9.61

$0.72 ¥4.90

97.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 ¥18.73

$1.64 ¥11.06

68.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 ¥14.11

$1.71 ¥11.56

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 ¥12.52

$1.13 ¥7.62

63.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ¥7.22

$0.76 ¥5.14

40.79%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.45

$1.10 ¥7.41

53.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.46 ¥105

$9.22 ¥62.4

67.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 ¥21.74

$2.78 ¥18.77

15.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.81 ¥73.1

$8.50 ¥57.5

27.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 ¥15.35

$1.45 ¥9.80

56.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 ¥11.78

$1.34 ¥9.04

29.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ¥11.57

$1.50 ¥10.11

14.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 ¥10.20

$1.24 ¥8.38

21.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 ¥5.80

$0.54 ¥3.64

59.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ¥7.79

$1.73 ¥11.69

-33.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ¥4.55

$1.17 ¥7.90

-42.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ¥3.73

$0.64 ¥4.35

-14.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 ¥18.64

$2.75 ¥18.56

0.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.94 ¥80.7

$7.95 ¥53.8

50.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.35

$0.59 ¥3.97

33.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.63

$0.89 ¥6.02

76.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ¥2.77

$0.29 ¥1.98

41.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.46 ¥240

$11.29 ¥76.4

214.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ¥14.75

$0.80 ¥5.44

172.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 ¥2.76

$0.28 ¥1.91

46.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.37 ¥56.6

$3.44 ¥23.27

143.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.42

$1.11 ¥7.49

-0.90%

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

$19.4K ¥130.9K

$18.4K ¥124.6K

5.03%

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

$18.0K ¥121.9K

$16.8K ¥113.5K

7.42%

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

$52.7 ¥356

$51.7 ¥349

1.99%

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

$8.84 ¥59.8

$6.41 ¥43.33

37.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.62 ¥92.1

$9.80 ¥66.3

38.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.97 ¥318

$62.3 ¥421

-24.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.24 ¥137

$7.72 ¥52.2

162.18%

Cinema Ticket

$8.40 ¥56.8

$4.80 ¥32.49

75.00%

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

$1,274 ¥8,617

$413 ¥2,790

208.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.0K ¥209.3K

$8,483 ¥57.4K

264.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ¥394

$27.71 ¥187

110.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.30 ¥252

$30.72 ¥208

21.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ¥528

$55.1 ¥373

41.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.5 ¥660

$49.47 ¥335

97.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$941 ¥6,361

$126 ¥850

648.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$566 ¥3,827

$189 ¥1,277

199.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,538 ¥17.2K

$239 ¥1,619

959.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 ¥7,976

$138 ¥932

755.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K ¥97.3K

$3,164 ¥21.4K

354.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,836 ¥46.2K

$1,797 ¥12.1K

280.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,653 ¥11.2K

$440 ¥2,978

275.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

-10.50%

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

Last update for Shanghai: June 8, 2026

Last update for Benxi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $941 in Shanghai versus $126 in Benxi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 275% higher in Shanghai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Shanghai versus $21.00 in Benxi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $168 – making Benxi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Benxi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shanghai costs about 80% more than Benxi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,810 per month in Shanghai and $1,007 in Benxi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Benxi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,274 per month in Shanghai and $413 in Benxi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 35% more in Shanghai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Benxi, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Shanghai at $1,206. In Benxi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shanghai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Benxi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Benxi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shanghai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.