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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 42.7% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 96.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 39% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 87% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.77 ¥19.84
70.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$20.62 ¥148
75.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.76 ¥34.15
17.65%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.41 ¥17.26
47.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.44 ¥3.14
22.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.27 ¥1.92
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.95 ¥6.84
50.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.05 ¥14.71
34.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.75 ¥12.55
24.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.2 ¥8.61
50.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.67 ¥4.83
64.18%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.86 ¥13.34
-9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$15.98 ¥115
-1.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.59 ¥18.59
22.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.34 ¥74.2
5.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.48 ¥10.6
52.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.29 ¥9.23
29.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.07 ¥7.71
66.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.11 ¥7.99
36.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.65 ¥4.67
30.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.92 ¥6.58
27.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.53 ¥3.8
28.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.66 ¥4.77
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.05 ¥21.87
-5.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$6.98 ¥50.1
59.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.04 ¥7.44
-23.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.97 ¥14.11
-20.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.1
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$25.34 ¥182
38.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.36 ¥9.74
68.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.3 ¥2.14
23.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$2.87 ¥20.56
183.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.15 ¥8.23
-5.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$17.8K ¥128K
9.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.3K ¥117.1K
11.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$35.95 ¥258
43.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$5.96 ¥42.78
45.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$8.22 ¥59
64.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$21.69 ¥156
114.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$15.87 ¥114
28.80%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$5.58 ¥40.04
53.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$339 ¥2,431
285.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$27.3K ¥195.8K
15.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$29.44 ¥211
99.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$29.44 ¥211
25.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$59.8 ¥429
30.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$60.8 ¥436
62.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$265 ¥1,899
259.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$161 ¥1,154
256.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$570 ¥4,090
341.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$323 ¥2,317
271.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,411 ¥17.3K
496.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,339 ¥9,603
430.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Chongqing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$899 ¥6,451
70.55%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chongqing: October 27, 2025

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