Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Dalian Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Dalian

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 12.1% more expensive than Dalian without rent, and 53.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 7.7% more expensive than Dalian without rent, and 61.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 ¥33.14

$3.43 ¥23.73

39.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.90 ¥248

$24.36 ¥168

47.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 ¥37.34

$4.94 ¥34.11

9.31%

Cappuccino

$3.58 ¥24.72

$3.09 ¥21.38

15.86%

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

$0.59 ¥4.04

$0.51 ¥3.52

15.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.32

$0.26 ¥1.80

30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ¥9.53

$0.80 ¥5.52

72.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ¥19.19

$1.50 ¥10.36

85.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.70

$1.66 ¥11.49

28.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.38

$1.51 ¥10.46

18.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.30

$0.97 ¥6.73

9.28%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥11.30

$2.01 ¥13.87

-18.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.57 ¥108

$19.09 ¥132

-18.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ¥21.40

$2.75 ¥18.98

12.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 ¥76.0

$10.22 ¥70.6

7.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥15.61

$1.26 ¥8.68

79.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.97

$1.11 ¥7.65

55.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.48

$1.28 ¥8.82

41.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ¥10.04

$0.72 ¥4.99

101.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ¥5.43

$0.72 ¥4.99

9.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.80

$0.75 ¥5.20

50.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.70

$0.70 ¥4.83

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.89

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 ¥18.77

$3.49 ¥24.12

-22.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 ¥75.4

$17.65 ¥122

-38.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.75

$0.80 ¥5.52

3.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ¥11.13

$1.52 ¥10.49

5.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.98

$0.27 ¥1.85

59.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.22 ¥236

$27.69 ¥191

23.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ¥14.99

$1.38 ¥9.51

57.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.60

$0.40 ¥2.73

-5.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.27 ¥57.1

$4.10 ¥28.30

101.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.63

$1.18 ¥8.14

-6.78%

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

$19.5K ¥135.0K

$17.9K ¥123.9K

9.00%

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

$17.9K ¥123.7K

$16.3K ¥112.4K

9.98%

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

$53.1 ¥367

$43.40 ¥300

22.44%

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

$8.64 ¥59.7

$9.39 ¥64.9

-7.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.54 ¥93.6

$11.37 ¥78.6

19.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.44 ¥321

$36.04 ¥249

28.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.76 ¥137

$24.08 ¥166

-17.94%

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 ¥58.2

$6.45 ¥44.55

30.54%

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

$1,265 ¥8,744

$457 ¥3,161

176.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.2K ¥215.3K

$9,600 ¥66.3K

224.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ¥403

$55.9 ¥386

4.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.31 ¥258

$50.6 ¥350

-26.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥537

$106 ¥735

-26.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ¥664

$95.6 ¥661

0.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 ¥6,563

$361 ¥2,495

163.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 ¥3,933

$203 ¥1,401

180.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,528 ¥17.5K

$646 ¥4,465

291.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ¥8,340

$362 ¥2,500

233.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.9K ¥96.1K

$2,670 ¥18.5K

420.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,247 ¥50.1K

$1,593 ¥11.0K

354.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,687 ¥11.7K

$1,084 ¥7,489

55.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

4.18

-14.35%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Dalian: March 3, 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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