Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Changshu Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Changshu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Shanghai versus $709 in Changshu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,979 in Shanghai versus $1,130 in Changshu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,749 in Shanghai versus $1,551 in Changshu.

Living in Shanghai is roughly 70% more expensive than Changshu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shanghai 10% lower, Changshu 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.90 ¥33.21

$2.81 ¥19.05

74.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.30 ¥246

$21.75 ¥147

66.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ¥37.88

$4.91 ¥33.29

13.85%

Cappuccino

$3.55 ¥24.06

$3.07 ¥20.77

15.64%

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

$0.57 ¥3.88

$0.44 ¥2.96

29.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.46

$0.27 ¥1.81

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ¥9.67

$0.87 ¥5.90

64.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ¥19.27

$2.05 ¥13.86

39.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 ¥14.62

$1.88 ¥12.77

14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 ¥12.04

$1.56 ¥10.53

14.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.43

$0.95 ¥6.40

15.79%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.45

$1.55 ¥10.47

9.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.30 ¥104

$12.87 ¥87.2

18.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ¥21.15

$3.22 ¥21.79

-3.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 ¥72.9

$10.32 ¥69.9

4.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥15.31

$1.80 ¥12.16

25.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ¥11.33

$1.22 ¥8.24

36.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.18

$1.49 ¥10.06

20.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.36

$1.10 ¥7.47

39.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 ¥5.47

$0.74 ¥5.00

9.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ¥7.53

$0.96 ¥6.50

15.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.62

$0.56 ¥3.80

21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.76

$0.55 ¥3.76

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ¥19.22

$3.15 ¥21.33

-9.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 ¥78.6

$10.59 ¥71.8

9.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ¥11.08

$1.57 ¥10.66

4.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.94

$0.29 ¥1.98

48.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.41 ¥233

$16.75 ¥113

105.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 ¥14.94

$1.43 ¥9.69

54.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.56

$0.33 ¥2.21

15.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.38 ¥56.7

$6.85 ¥46.42

22.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥7.72

$1.12 ¥7.62

1.79%

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

$19.5K ¥132.3K

$19.6K ¥132.4K

-0.07%

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

$18.1K ¥122.9K

$17.3K ¥117.3K

4.79%

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

$52.8 ¥358

$44.27 ¥300

19.29%

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

$8.53 ¥57.8

$9.92 ¥67.2

-14.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.84 ¥93.7

$11.49 ¥77.8

20.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.02 ¥318

$41.00 ¥278

14.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.81 ¥134

$13.92 ¥94.3

42.31%

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 ¥57.3

$6.04 ¥40.91

40.07%

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

$1,303 ¥8,823

$335 ¥2,268

288.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K ¥213.8K

$17.1K ¥116.1K

84.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 ¥404

$43.70 ¥296

36.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.09 ¥258

$30.70 ¥208

24.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ¥534

$72.3 ¥490

8.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 ¥672

$72.2 ¥489

37.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$933 ¥6,317

$274 ¥1,854

240.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 ¥3,861

$196 ¥1,327

190.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,490 ¥16.9K

$602 ¥4,079

313.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 ¥8,075

$366 ¥2,478

225.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.0K ¥94.7K

$3,045 ¥20.6K

359.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,729 ¥45.6K

$2,017 ¥13.7K

233.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,689 ¥11.4K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Changshu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Shanghai and $274 in Changshu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Shanghai vs $22.00 in Changshu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $199 per month, with Changshu 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 Changshu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changshu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,814 in Shanghai and $1,064 in Changshu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $933 in Shanghai versus $274 in Changshu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Changshu – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $36.00 in Shanghai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Shanghai versus $709 in Changshu – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $709 in Changshu versus $1,209 in Shanghai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Changshu but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Changshu 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.

Safety-wise, Shanghai and Changshu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Changshu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.