Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Chengdu Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Chengdu

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 31.8% more expensive than Chengdu without rent, and 76.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 27.4% more expensive than Chengdu without rent, and 76% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 ¥33.92

$2.86 ¥20.51

65.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥259

$23.94 ¥172

51.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.6 ¥40.18

$4.83 ¥34.66

15.94%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥25.53

$2.86 ¥20.52

24.48%

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

$0.54 ¥3.9

$0.44 ¥3.15

22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.59

$0.28 ¥1.98

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ¥10.25

$1.13 ¥8.1

26.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥19.81

$2.07 ¥14.83

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ¥15.66

$1.77 ¥12.66

23.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ¥13

$1.47 ¥10.53

23.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.1 ¥7.9

$0.93 ¥6.69

18.28%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥12.1

$1.94 ¥13.92

-12.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.79 ¥113

$13.48 ¥96.7

17.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ¥22.76

$3.68 ¥26.42

-13.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 ¥78.1

$11.11 ¥79.7

-2.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥16.24

$1.86 ¥13.33

21.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ¥11.98

$1.18 ¥8.48

41.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.78

$1.44 ¥10.31

23.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ¥10.94

$1.02 ¥7.32

49.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥6.09

$0.71 ¥5.08

19.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥8.37

$0.74 ¥5.32

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.84

$0.6 ¥4.28

13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.6 ¥4.29

$0.58 ¥4.15

3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ¥20.56

$3.24 ¥23.27

-11.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 ¥80

$6.92 ¥49.63

61.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.8 ¥5.73

$0.93 ¥6.68

-13.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ¥11.22

$1.85 ¥13.3

-15.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.4 ¥2.89

$0.44 ¥3.13

-9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.15 ¥252

$27.31 ¥196

28.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ¥16.45

$1.22 ¥8.74

87.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.69

$0.28 ¥2.02

32.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ¥58.4

$4.16 ¥29.86

95.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥7.81

$1.13 ¥8.11

-3.54%

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

$19.5K ¥140.1K

$18.6K ¥133.6K

4.92%

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

$18.2K ¥130.5K

$16.4K ¥118K

10.62%

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

$51.6 ¥370

$45.03 ¥323

14.48%

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

$8.68 ¥62.2

$11.42 ¥81.9

-23.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.5 ¥96.8

$11.71 ¥84

15.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.42 ¥333

$23.72 ¥170

95.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.44 ¥147

$11.5 ¥82.5

77.74%

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 ¥61.5

$5.68 ¥40.78

51.06%

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

$1,307 ¥9,378

$335 ¥2,400

290.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K ¥225.4K

$12.3K ¥88.3K

155.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ¥422

$37.28 ¥267

57.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.99 ¥265

$39.32 ¥282

-5.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥558

$65.8 ¥472

18.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 ¥706

$49.78 ¥357

97.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 ¥6,827

$314 ¥2,254

202.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$574 ¥4,115

$182 ¥1,309

214.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,518 ¥18.1K

$624 ¥4,478

303.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 ¥8,614

$324 ¥2,321

271.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K ¥103.2K

$4,049 ¥29K

255.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,106 ¥51K

$2,039 ¥14.6K

248.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,534 ¥11K

$940 ¥6,741

63.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

4.21

-14.96%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chengdu: October 27, 2025

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