Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Elk Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Elk

🙂 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 3.4% cheaper than Elk without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shanghai is 12.1% cheaper than Elk without rent, and 4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.19
$8.34 zł 30.76
-42.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$39.99 zł 148
-10.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.40
$6.76 zł 24.94
-20.12%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.76
$2.13 zł 7.86
68.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.05
$2.07 zł 7.62
-71.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$1.11 zł 4.11
-69.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.55
$4.04 zł 14.91
-65.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.22
$4.10 zł 15.12
-32.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.72
$1.07 zł 3.94
99.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.39
$1.28 zł 4.74
39.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.31
$1.80 zł 6.64
-41.11%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.31
$2.54 zł 9.37
-35.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$4.80 zł 17.73
224.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.43
$6.76 zł 24.95
-54.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.1
$13.15 zł 48.54
-16.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.63
$1.09 zł 4.03
107.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.98
$1.89 zł 6.97
-8.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$2.02 zł 7.46
-10.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.05
$2.90 zł 10.70
-50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.89 zł 3.30
-11.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.81
$1.14 zł 4.21
-0.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.71
$1.35 zł 4.97
-49.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.52 zł 1.91
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.80
$5.34 zł 19.69
-49.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.5
$7.67 zł 28.31
42.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$1.15 zł 4.25
-27.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.15
$1.38 zł 5.08
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$1.12 zł 4.12
-61.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥237
$32.65 zł 120
4.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥15.02
$2.15 zł 7.92
0.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.61
$0.48 zł 1.75
-20.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.2
$13.54 zł 49.97
-38.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.64
$1.69 zł 6.24
-34.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.2K
$32.2K zł 119.0K
-39.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.8K
$31.2K zł 115.3K
-42.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥368
$315 zł 1,162
-83.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.8
$6.61 zł 24.38
30.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.7
$13.52 zł 49.87
0.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$37.12 zł 137
25.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$19.76 zł 72.9
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$6.60 zł 24.34
27.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,757
$316 zł 1,167
300.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.6K
$5,453 zł 20.1K
471.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$83.3 zł 307
-30.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$27.20 zł 100
37.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$85.0 zł 314
-8.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥665
$85.7 zł 316
12.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,573
$552 zł 2,037
72.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,939
$461 zł 1,700
23.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$939 zł 3,464
169.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,352
$847 zł 3,126
42.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.2K
$2,368 zł 8,736
487.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.2K
$2,052 zł 7,572
253.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$1,308 zł 4,828
28.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
7
-48.86%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Elk: 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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