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Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Chongqing Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Chongqing

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Shanghai is 37.5% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 89.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Shanghai is 42.1% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 99.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.77 ยฅ33.35
$2.74 ยฅ19.13
74.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.92 ยฅ251
$20.81 ยฅ145
72.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 ยฅ38.07
$4.76 ยฅ33.28
14.50%
Cappuccino
$3.42 ยฅ23.93
$2.31 ยฅ16.12
48.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ยฅ4.08
$0.41 ยฅ2.84
41.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ยฅ2.36
$0.27 ยฅ1.86
25.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 ยฅ9.92
$0.94 ยฅ6.60
51.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ยฅ19.59
$2.11 ยฅ14.71
32.70%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ยฅ14.61
$1.69 ยฅ11.78
23.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 ยฅ12.94
$1.20 ยฅ8.38
54.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 ยฅ7.67
$0.71 ยฅ4.98
54.93%
Eggs
$1.60 ยฅ11.21
$1.87 ยฅ13.09
-14.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.28 ยฅ107
$15.41 ยฅ108
-0.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 ยฅ21.56
$2.58 ยฅ18.02
19.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ยฅ75.9
$10.48 ยฅ73.2
3.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 ยฅ16.32
$1.42 ยฅ9.94
64.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ยฅ12.37
$1.34 ยฅ9.34
32.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ยฅ12.43
$1.07 ยฅ7.45
66.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 ยฅ10.29
$1.11 ยฅ7.78
32.43%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ยฅ5.65
$0.65 ยฅ4.52
24.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 ยฅ8.11
$0.86 ยฅ6.02
34.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 ยฅ4.38
$0.56 ยฅ3.92
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ยฅ4.17
$0.68 ยฅ4.74
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77 ยฅ19.38
$3.09 ยฅ21.58
-10.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.49 ยฅ80.3
$7.19 ยฅ50.3
59.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ยฅ5.87
$1.02 ยฅ7.11
-17.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ยฅ11.29
$2.05 ยฅ14.36
-21.46%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ยฅ2.79
$0.29 ยฅ2.03
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.13 ยฅ239
$24.96 ยฅ174
36.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ยฅ16.00
$1.38 ยฅ9.64
65.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ยฅ2.64
$0.32 ยฅ2.26
18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 ยฅ58.2
$2.87 ยฅ20.04
189.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ยฅ8.01
$1.10 ยฅ7.67
4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ยฅ137.4K
$17.9K ยฅ124.8K
10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3K ยฅ127.7K
$16.7K ยฅ116.5K
9.60%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.1 ยฅ364
$36.13 ยฅ253
44.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.79 ยฅ61.4
$6.22 ยฅ43.46
41.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.87 ยฅ96.9
$8.45 ยฅ59.1
64.14%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ยฅ325
$21.55 ยฅ151
115.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.78 ยฅ138
$15.74 ยฅ110
25.67%
Cinema Ticket
$8.28 ยฅ57.9
$5.55 ยฅ38.83
49.19%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,297 ยฅ9,069
$331 ยฅ2,315
291.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.9K ยฅ216.0K
$27.4K ยฅ191.3K
12.90%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 ยฅ418
$29.84 ยฅ209
100.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.03 ยฅ266
$29.10 ยฅ203
30.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 ยฅ541
$58.3 ยฅ407
32.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3 ยฅ694
$60.8 ยฅ425
63.49%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 ยฅ6,600
$265 ยฅ1,852
256.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 ยฅ3,986
$160 ยฅ1,116
257.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,460 ยฅ17.2K
$577 ยฅ4,035
326.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,204 ยฅ8,413
$314 ยฅ2,197
283.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.2K ยฅ99.6K
$2,609 ยฅ18.2K
446.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,080 ยฅ49.5K
$1,627 ยฅ11.4K
335.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 ยฅ11.4K
$1,004 ยฅ7,021
62.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.74
-4.28%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shanghai: January 10, 2026

Last update for Chongqing: January 12, 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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