Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Changchun Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Changchun

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 20.7% more expensive than Changchun without rent, and 69.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 24.2% more expensive than Changchun without rent, and 75.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.83 ¥20.28
67.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$20.44 ¥147
76.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.8 ¥34.42
16.67%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.59 ¥18.61
37.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.49 ¥3.49
10.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.27 ¥1.92
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.83 ¥5.94
72.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.08 ¥14.91
32.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.93 ¥13.82
12.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.24 ¥8.86
45.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$1.27 ¥9.1
-13.39%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.11 ¥7.96
52.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$12.96 ¥92.9
21.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.52 ¥25.26
-9.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$8.3 ¥59.5
31.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.39 ¥9.96
62.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.02 ¥7.32
63.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$0.8 ¥5.76
122.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.29 ¥9.26
17.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.67 ¥4.79
26.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.61 ¥4.37
91.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.41 ¥2.92
65.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.55 ¥3.94
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.04 ¥21.82
-5.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$10.38 ¥74.5
7.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.72 ¥5.16
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$0.98 ¥7
59.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.27 ¥1.93
48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$16.83 ¥121
108.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.14 ¥8.16
100.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.28 ¥2.03
32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$3.41 ¥24.46
138.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.16 ¥8.34
-6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$17.9K ¥128.5K
9.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$18.9K ¥135.4K
-3.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$41.55 ¥298
24.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$14.46 ¥104
-39.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$14.03 ¥101
-3.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$41.97 ¥301
10.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$3.92 ¥28.13
421.43%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$4.98 ¥35.73
72.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$274 ¥1,962
378.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$8,213 ¥58.9K
282.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$27.75 ¥199
111.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$30.18 ¥216
22.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$74.3 ¥533
4.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$80.2 ¥576
22.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$276 ¥1,977
245.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$236 ¥1,696
142.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$594 ¥4,259
324.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$355 ¥2,547
238.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$1,677 ¥12K
758.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$3,964 ¥28.4K
79.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Changchun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$861 ¥6,173
78.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
5.27
-32.07%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Changchun: October 29, 2025

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