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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 8.3% more expensive than Changsha without rent, and 63.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 13.9% more expensive than Changsha without rent, and 58.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.76 ¥19.8
71.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$21.22 ¥152
70.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.82 ¥34.58
16.18%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.97 ¥21.31
19.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.46 ¥3.29
17.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.27 ¥1.94
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.12 ¥8.04
27.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.89 ¥13.56
46.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.94 ¥13.89
12.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$2.34 ¥16.79
-22.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.91 ¥6.53
20.88%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.61 ¥11.55
4.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$15.65 ¥112
0.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.08 ¥22.13
2.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$8.87 ¥63.6
22.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.86 ¥13.33
21.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.3 ¥9.32
28.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.78 ¥12.78
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.9 ¥13.66
-20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.88 ¥6.33
-3.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$1.49 ¥10.68
-21.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.47 ¥3.34
44.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.42 ¥3.04
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.72 ¥19.5
5.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$12.52 ¥89.8
-10.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.94 ¥6.77
-14.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.42 ¥10.19
9.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.36 ¥2.6
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$14.12 ¥101
148.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.22 ¥8.72
87.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.26 ¥1.85
42.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$8.56 ¥61.4
-4.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.12 ¥8.03
-2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$20.4K ¥146K
-3.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$21.6K ¥154.9K
-15.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$44.3 ¥318
16.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$12.21 ¥87.6
-28.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$14.46 ¥104
-6.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$56.8 ¥408
-18.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$22.27 ¥160
-8.22%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.03 ¥43.28
42.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$321 ¥2,299
307.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$7,277 ¥52.2K
331.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$83.8 ¥601
-29.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$30.54 ¥219
21.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$81 ¥581
-4.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$68.7 ¥493
43.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$203 ¥1,459
368.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$168 ¥1,205
241.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$525 ¥3,765
379.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$359 ¥2,572
234.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,136 ¥15.3K
573.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$3,782 ¥27.1K
87.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Changsha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$951 ¥6,820
61.32%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Changsha: October 26, 2025

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