Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Changsha Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Changsha

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 5.9% more expensive than Changsha without rent, and 63.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 12.5% more expensive than Changsha without rent, and 61.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 ¥33.14

$2.75 ¥19.01

74.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.90 ¥248

$21.21 ¥147

69.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 ¥37.34

$4.73 ¥32.65

14.16%

Cappuccino

$3.58 ¥24.72

$2.95 ¥20.42

21.36%

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

$0.59 ¥4.04

$0.46 ¥3.18

28.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.32

$0.25 ¥1.71

36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ¥9.53

$1.13 ¥7.84

22.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ¥19.19

$1.90 ¥13.13

46.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.70

$1.98 ¥13.69

7.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.38

$2.37 ¥16.35

-24.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.30

$0.92 ¥6.37

15.22%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥11.30

$1.67 ¥11.56

-2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.57 ¥108

$15.73 ¥109

-1.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ¥21.40

$3.10 ¥21.45

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 ¥76.0

$9.02 ¥62.3

21.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥15.61

$1.83 ¥12.63

23.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.97

$1.33 ¥9.17

30.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.48

$1.73 ¥11.93

4.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ¥10.04

$1.81 ¥12.50

-19.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ¥5.43

$0.95 ¥6.56

-16.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.80

$1.53 ¥10.59

-26.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.70

$0.50 ¥3.49

36.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.89

$0.43 ¥2.95

30.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 ¥18.77

$2.75 ¥18.99

-1.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 ¥75.4

$12.06 ¥83.4

-9.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.75

$0.91 ¥6.31

-8.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ¥11.13

$1.49 ¥10.27

8.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.98

$0.34 ¥2.33

26.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.22 ¥236

$13.69 ¥94.6

149.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ¥14.99

$1.22 ¥8.42

77.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.60

$0.26 ¥1.79

46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.27 ¥57.1

$8.57 ¥59.2

-3.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.63

$1.18 ¥8.17

-6.78%

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

$19.5K ¥135.0K

$20.4K ¥141.0K

-4.26%

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

$17.9K ¥123.7K

$21.6K ¥149.4K

-17.23%

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

$53.1 ¥367

$43.74 ¥302

21.49%

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

$8.64 ¥59.7

$12.61 ¥87.2

-31.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.54 ¥93.6

$14.89 ¥103

-9.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.44 ¥321

$57.0 ¥394

-18.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.76 ¥137

$22.60 ¥156

-12.57%

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 ¥58.2

$5.96 ¥41.17

41.28%

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

$1,265 ¥8,744

$322 ¥2,228

292.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.2K ¥215.3K

$7,273 ¥50.3K

328.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ¥403

$84.1 ¥581

-30.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.31 ¥258

$30.90 ¥214

20.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥537

$82.4 ¥569

-5.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ¥664

$68.9 ¥476

39.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 ¥6,563

$205 ¥1,415

363.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 ¥3,933

$168 ¥1,159

239.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,528 ¥17.5K

$517 ¥3,572

389.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ¥8,340

$364 ¥2,514

231.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.9K ¥96.1K

$2,361 ¥16.3K

489.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,247 ¥50.1K

$1,350 ¥9,328

436.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,687 ¥11.7K

$1,181 ¥8,159

42.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

3.89

-7.97%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Changsha: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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