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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 28.1% more expensive than Chengdu without rent, and 76.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 27.2% more expensive than Chengdu without rent, and 82.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 ¥33.14

$2.72 ¥18.80

76.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.90 ¥248

$23.31 ¥161

54.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 ¥37.34

$4.78 ¥33.05

12.97%

Cappuccino

$3.58 ¥24.72

$2.86 ¥19.73

25.17%

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

$0.59 ¥4.04

$0.44 ¥3.04

34.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.32

$0.28 ¥1.93

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ¥9.53

$1.10 ¥7.59

25.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ¥19.19

$2.06 ¥14.23

34.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.70

$1.81 ¥12.53

17.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.38

$1.39 ¥9.62

28.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.30

$0.90 ¥6.25

17.78%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥11.30

$1.86 ¥12.85

-12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.57 ¥108

$13.91 ¥96.1

11.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ¥21.40

$3.62 ¥25.02

-14.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 ¥76.0

$11.32 ¥78.2

-2.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥15.61

$1.94 ¥13.43

16.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.97

$1.22 ¥8.45

41.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.48

$1.46 ¥10.08

23.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ¥10.04

$1.03 ¥7.08

40.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ¥5.43

$0.71 ¥4.90

11.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.80

$0.74 ¥5.14

52.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.70

$0.57 ¥3.93

19.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.89

$0.61 ¥4.20

-8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 ¥18.77

$3.28 ¥22.64

-17.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 ¥75.4

$5.35 ¥36.98

104.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.75

$1.01 ¥7.01

-17.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ¥11.13

$1.88 ¥13.01

-14.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.98

$0.41 ¥2.83

4.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.22 ¥236

$27.62 ¥191

23.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ¥14.99

$1.27 ¥8.79

70.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.60

$0.26 ¥1.79

46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.27 ¥57.1

$4.13 ¥28.52

100.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.63

$1.18 ¥8.16

-6.78%

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

$19.5K ¥135.0K

$18.7K ¥129.3K

4.41%

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

$17.9K ¥123.7K

$16.1K ¥111.5K

10.86%

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

$53.1 ¥367

$43.59 ¥301

21.91%

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

$8.64 ¥59.7

$11.52 ¥79.6

-25.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.54 ¥93.6

$11.46 ¥79.2

18.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.44 ¥321

$24.31 ¥168

91.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.76 ¥137

$11.25 ¥77.8

75.64%

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 ¥58.2

$5.68 ¥39.28

48.24%

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

$1,265 ¥8,744

$331 ¥2,284

282.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.2K ¥215.3K

$12.2K ¥84.0K

156.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ¥403

$37.27 ¥258

56.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.31 ¥258

$37.97 ¥262

-1.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥537

$67.7 ¥468

14.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ¥664

$51.1 ¥353

88.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 ¥6,563

$316 ¥2,182

200.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 ¥3,933

$185 ¥1,278

207.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,528 ¥17.5K

$611 ¥4,224

313.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ¥8,340

$326 ¥2,251

270.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.9K ¥96.1K

$3,985 ¥27.5K

248.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,247 ¥50.1K

$2,020 ¥14.0K

258.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,687 ¥11.7K

$1,120 ¥7,742

50.61%

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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chengdu: February 28, 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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