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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 8.8% more expensive than Changsha without rent, and 53.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 16.7% more expensive than Changsha without rent, and 64.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 ¥33.30

$2.76 ¥19.23

72.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.92 ¥251

$21.18 ¥148

69.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 ¥38.01

$4.95 ¥34.54

10.10%

Cappuccino

$3.42 ¥23.89

$3.05 ¥21.27

12.13%

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

$0.58 ¥4.07

$0.42 ¥2.95

38.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.35

$0.25 ¥1.73

36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ¥9.91

$1.14 ¥7.95

24.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ¥19.56

$1.85 ¥12.94

51.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 ¥14.59

$1.99 ¥13.87

5.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 ¥12.92

$2.27 ¥15.85

-18.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.66

$0.86 ¥5.99

27.91%

Eggs

$1.60 ¥11.20

$1.61 ¥11.20

-0.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 ¥107

$15.50 ¥108

-1.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 ¥21.53

$3.21 ¥22.41

-4.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 ¥75.8

$9.00 ¥62.8

20.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 ¥16.30

$1.88 ¥13.14

23.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ¥12.35

$1.34 ¥9.38

32.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.42

$1.70 ¥11.87

4.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ¥10.28

$1.87 ¥13.07

-21.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 ¥5.64

$0.96 ¥6.70

-15.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ¥8.10

$1.52 ¥10.62

-23.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ¥4.37

$0.47 ¥3.29

34.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ¥4.17

$0.39 ¥2.76

53.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 ¥19.35

$2.72 ¥19.01

1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 ¥80.2

$11.83 ¥82.6

-2.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.86

$0.95 ¥6.63

-11.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ¥11.27

$1.47 ¥10.28

9.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.79

$0.34 ¥2.37

17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.13 ¥238

$13.68 ¥95.5

149.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ¥15.98

$1.27 ¥8.88

80.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.63

$0.28 ¥1.97

35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.32 ¥58.1

$8.52 ¥59.5

-2.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥8.00

$1.13 ¥7.86

1.77%

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

$19.7K ¥137.2K

$20.5K ¥143.3K

-4.26%

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

$18.3K ¥127.5K

$21.8K ¥152.5K

-16.41%

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

$52.1 ¥363

$42.93 ¥300

21.24%

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

$8.79 ¥61.3

$12.52 ¥87.4

-29.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 ¥96.8

$14.83 ¥104

-6.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.42 ¥324

$59.0 ¥411

-21.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.78 ¥138

$22.60 ¥158

-12.48%

Cinema Ticket

$8.28 ¥57.8

$5.90 ¥41.17

40.34%

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

$1,297 ¥9,056

$312 ¥2,181

315.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K ¥215.7K

$7,317 ¥51.1K

322.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥417

$83.3 ¥581

-28.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.03 ¥265

$31.07 ¥217

22.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ¥541

$82.2 ¥573

-5.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 ¥693

$71.0 ¥496

39.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥6,591

$206 ¥1,437

358.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 ¥3,981

$167 ¥1,168

240.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,460 ¥17.2K

$525 ¥3,667

368.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 ¥8,401

$361 ¥2,517

233.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K ¥99.5K

$2,359 ¥16.5K

504.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,080 ¥49.4K

$1,373 ¥9,586

415.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 ¥11.4K

$1,133 ¥7,908

44.05%

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: January 10, 2026

Last update for Changsha: January 12, 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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