Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Dongguan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Dongguan

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 19.6% more expensive than Dongguan without rent, and 64.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 22.5% more expensive than Dongguan without rent, and 61.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.43 ¥17.4
94.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$20.54 ¥147
76.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.42 ¥31.68
26.70%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.67 ¥19.17
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.44 ¥3.18
22.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.29 ¥2.1
24.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.13 ¥8.11
26.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.27 ¥16.27
21.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.7 ¥12.22
28.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.48 ¥10.62
22.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.96 ¥6.89
14.58%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.8 ¥12.93
-6.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$12.61 ¥90.4
25.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.88 ¥27.82
-18.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$11.65 ¥83.6
-6.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.81 ¥13
24.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.43 ¥10.22
16.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.8 ¥12.9
-1.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.36 ¥9.76
11.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.94 ¥6.72
-9.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$1.46 ¥10.44
-19.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.63 ¥4.49
7.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.59 ¥4.21
1.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.76 ¥19.79
3.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$12.42 ¥89.1
-10.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.87 ¥6.24
-8.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.93 ¥13.87
-19.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.09
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$20.85 ¥150
68.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.23 ¥8.8
86.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.38 ¥2.7
-2.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$5.44 ¥39.05
49.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.18 ¥8.47
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$20.6K ¥147.7K
-5.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$20.4K ¥146.2K
-10.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$62.6 ¥449
-17.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$8.38 ¥60.1
3.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$12.1 ¥86.8
11.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$61 ¥437
-23.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$13.26 ¥95.1
54.15%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.81 ¥48.83
25.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$454 ¥3,257
187.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$20.7K ¥148.8K
51.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$29.74 ¥213
97.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$24.67 ¥177
49.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$62.2 ¥446
25.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$38.06 ¥273
158.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$362 ¥2,598
162.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$213 ¥1,528
169.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$670 ¥4,802
276.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$419 ¥3,004
186.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$6,873 ¥49.3K
109.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$3,541 ¥25.4K
100.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Dongguan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$763 ¥5,476
100.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.04
-11.39%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Dongguan: October 26, 2025

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