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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 38.1% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 98.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 35.8% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 96% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.19
$2.76 ¥19.11
73.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$20.73 ¥143
73.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.40
$4.81 ¥33.30
12.27%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.76
$2.31 ¥15.97
54.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.05
$0.41 ¥2.82
43.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$0.29 ¥2.01
17.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.55
$0.96 ¥6.64
43.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.22
$2.07 ¥14.31
34.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.72
$1.72 ¥11.87
23.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.39
$1.26 ¥8.71
42.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.31
$0.71 ¥4.92
49.30%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.31
$1.85 ¥12.83
-11.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$15.85 ¥110
-1.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.43
$2.57 ¥17.75
20.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.1
$10.29 ¥71.2
6.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.63
$1.50 ¥10.38
50.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.98
$1.35 ¥9.33
28.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$1.11 ¥7.71
63.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.05
$1.08 ¥7.45
34.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.70 ¥4.82
12.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.81
$0.90 ¥6.26
25.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.71
$0.57 ¥3.92
19.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.63 ¥4.39
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.80
$3.22 ¥22.28
-15.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.5
$8.69 ¥60.1
25.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$0.96 ¥6.63
-13.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.15
$2.03 ¥14.07
-20.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.29 ¥2.02
48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥237
$24.75 ¥171
38.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥15.02
$1.40 ¥9.72
55.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.61
$0.32 ¥2.24
18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.2
$2.84 ¥19.67
191.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.64
$1.12 ¥7.72
-1.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.2K
$18.5K ¥127.7K
5.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.8K
$16.7K ¥115.3K
7.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥368
$36.11 ¥250
47.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.8
$6.01 ¥41.60
43.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.7
$8.18 ¥56.6
65.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$21.89 ¥151
112.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$15.80 ¥109
25.06%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$5.47 ¥37.87
53.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,757
$331 ¥2,288
282.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.6K
$26.9K ¥185.8K
16.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$28.95 ¥200
101.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$29.38 ¥203
26.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$58.6 ¥406
32.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥665
$60.2 ¥417
59.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,573
$266 ¥1,839
257.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,939
$157 ¥1,088
261.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$573 ¥3,966
341.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,352
$326 ¥2,259
269.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.2K
$2,613 ¥18.1K
432.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.2K
$1,585 ¥11.0K
357.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$1,020 ¥7,061
65.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.74
-4.28%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chongqing: March 2, 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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