Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Changzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Changzhou

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 56.4% more expensive than Changzhou without rent, and 78.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 40.2% more expensive than Changzhou without rent, and 64.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Changzhou
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
$26.78 ¥192
35.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.15 ¥29.76
34.94%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.09 ¥22.17
15.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.45 ¥3.2
20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.25 ¥1.79
44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.67 ¥4.8
113.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.36 ¥9.73
102.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Changzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.92 ¥13.75
13.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.28 ¥9.19
41.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.94 ¥6.74
17.02%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.75 ¥12.52
-3.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$7.01 ¥50.3
125.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.41 ¥17.25
31.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$9.65 ¥69.2
12.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.81 ¥13
24.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.76 ¥12.62
-5.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.58 ¥11.32
12.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.01 ¥7.22
50.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.73 ¥5.27
16.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.93 ¥6.7
25.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.39 ¥2.82
74.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.49 ¥3.51
22.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.04 ¥21.8
-5.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$9.78 ¥70.2
14.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.71 ¥5.09
12.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.69 ¥12.11
-7.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Changzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.33 ¥2.33
21.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$13.52 ¥97
159.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.36 ¥9.73
68.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.26 ¥1.86
42.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$2.73 ¥19.61
198.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.16 ¥8.3
-6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$15.3K ¥109.6K
27.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$17.3K ¥123.8K
5.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Changzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$45.11 ¥324
14.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$11.25 ¥80.7
-22.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$18.62 ¥134
-27.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Changzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$38.2 ¥274
21.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$13.89 ¥99.7
47.16%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.42 ¥46.08
33.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Changzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$233 ¥1,674
460.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$14K ¥100.4K
124.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Changzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$45.33 ¥325
29.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$25.95 ¥186
42.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$69.8 ¥501
11.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$69.2 ¥497
42.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Changzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$284 ¥2,036
235.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$203 ¥1,453
183.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$864 ¥6,198
191.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$459 ¥3,291
161.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,858 ¥20.5K
403.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,487 ¥10.7K
377.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Changzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$1,092 ¥7,831
40.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.35
6.87%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Changzhou: October 27, 2025

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