Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Bozhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Bozhou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,192 in Shanghai versus $684 in Bozhou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,958 in Shanghai versus $1,102 in Bozhou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,724 in Shanghai versus $1,521 in Bozhou.

Living in Shanghai is roughly 74% more expensive than in Bozhou, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shanghai 11% lower, Bozhou 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.72 ¥31.92

$1.42 ¥9.58

232.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.92 ¥243

$20.63 ¥139

74.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 ¥38.75

$4.64 ¥31.35

23.71%

Cappuccino

$3.52 ¥23.76

$3.17 ¥21.40

11.04%

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

$0.57 ¥3.88

$0.39 ¥2.61

46.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.25

$0.27 ¥1.81

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ¥9.18

$1.09 ¥7.39

24.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ¥19.17

$1.66 ¥11.18

71.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ¥14.18

$1.15 ¥7.77

82.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ¥12.13

$1.55 ¥10.48

16.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.12

$0.90 ¥6.06

16.67%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.33

$1.61 ¥10.90

4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.78 ¥107

$13.05 ¥88.2

20.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ¥21.39

$3.24 ¥21.89

-2.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.02 ¥74.5

$10.31 ¥69.7

6.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ¥16.05

$1.77 ¥11.99

34.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.45

$1.26 ¥8.49

34.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.05

$1.41 ¥9.50

26.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ¥9.82

$1.14 ¥7.68

27.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ¥5.63

$0.67 ¥4.52

23.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.62

$0.89 ¥6.04

26.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.56

$0.59 ¥4.02

15.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ¥4.05

$0.54 ¥3.67

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ¥19.03

$3.15 ¥21.27

-10.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.74 ¥79.3

$9.53 ¥64.4

23.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ¥5.27

$0.74 ¥5.02

5.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.62

$1.58 ¥10.66

-0.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ¥2.74

$0.29 ¥1.96

41.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.05 ¥237

$16.81 ¥114

108.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 ¥15.26

$0.95 ¥6.40

137.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.52

$0.35 ¥2.36

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ¥55.3

$6.72 ¥45.39

21.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.79

$1.17 ¥7.87

-1.71%

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

$19.3K ¥130.3K

$19.1K ¥129.2K

0.83%

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

$17.7K ¥119.8K

$16.8K ¥113.3K

5.66%

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

$53.0 ¥358

$46.48 ¥314

14.07%

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

$8.77 ¥59.3

$9.67 ¥65.4

-9.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.78 ¥93.1

$6.77 ¥45.72

103.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.42 ¥307

$42.17 ¥285

7.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.00 ¥135

$13.73 ¥92.8

45.67%

Cinema Ticket

$8.30 ¥56.1

$6.17 ¥41.71

34.52%

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

$1,264 ¥8,542

$341 ¥2,307

270.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.7K ¥214.0K

$16.9K ¥114.0K

87.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.7 ¥390

$42.76 ¥289

34.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.93 ¥256

$30.86 ¥209

22.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 ¥520

$72.3 ¥489

6.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.7 ¥654

$73.1 ¥494

32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 ¥6,456

$281 ¥1,901

239.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 ¥3,749

$187 ¥1,263

196.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,497 ¥16.9K

$581 ¥3,927

329.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ¥8,154

$361 ¥2,442

233.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.3K ¥96.6K

$3,285 ¥22.2K

335.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,625 ¥44.8K

$1,848 ¥12.5K

258.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,702 ¥11.5K

$748 ¥5,054

127.52%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bozhou: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $955 in Shanghai and $281 in Bozhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 128% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Shanghai vs $21.00 in Bozhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $190 per month, with Bozhou cheaper across the board.

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 Bozhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bozhou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 128% higher in Shanghai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $955 in Shanghai versus $281 in Bozhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bozhou – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $36.00 in Shanghai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,192 per month in Shanghai versus $684 in Bozhou – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $684 in Bozhou versus $1,192 in Shanghai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bozhou but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Bozhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bozhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.