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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 1.2% more expensive than Elk without rent, and 11.4% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 3.3% more expensive than Elk without rent, and 1.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.85 ¥34.29
$8 zł 29.13
-39.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.66 ¥259
$41.29 zł 150
-11.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.41 ¥38.27
$6.58 zł 23.98
-17.78%
Cappuccino
$3.53 ¥24.95
$2.12 zł 7.73
66.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.12
$2.14 zł 7.79
-72.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.39
$1.12 zł 4.07
-69.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.4 ¥9.92
$4.02 zł 14.65
-65.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.64
$4.02 zł 14.65
-30.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 ¥14.91
$1.05 zł 3.84
100.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ¥13.01
$1.29 zł 4.71
42.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.47
$1.86 zł 6.78
-43.01%
Eggs
$1.61 ¥11.38
$2.63 zł 9.59
-38.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.27 ¥108
$4.93 zł 17.96
209.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ¥21.68
$6.44 zł 23.44
-52.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 ¥77.4
$12.92 zł 47.07
-15.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 ¥16.8
$1.09 zł 3.98
118.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 ¥12.36
$1.83 zł 6.65
-4.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ¥12.67
$2.05 zł 7.46
-12.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 ¥10.38
$2.85 zł 10.38
-48.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.04
$0.9 zł 3.29
-5.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ¥7.88
$1.09 zł 3.98
1.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 ¥4.51
$1.34 zł 4.89
-52.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.96
$0.52 zł 1.89
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82 ¥19.93
$5.32 zł 19.37
-46.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.49 ¥81.2
$6.82 zł 24.82
68.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.53
$1.17 zł 4.25
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥11.56
$1.33 zł 4.84
22.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥3.09
$1.06 zł 3.87
-58.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.77 ¥246
$32.58 zł 119
6.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.21 ¥15.61
$2.12 zł 7.73
4.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.4 ¥2.85
$0.52 zł 1.88
-23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.33 ¥58.9
$13.66 zł 49.74
-39.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.68
$1.76 zł 6.42
-38.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ¥139.3K
$32.5K zł 118.5K
-39.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K ¥127.9K
$31.6K zł 115K
-42.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.8 ¥366
$312 zł 1,136
-83.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.81 ¥62.3
$6.63 zł 24.16
32.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.66 ¥96.6
$13.82 zł 50.3
-1.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.59 ¥329
$37.03 zł 135
25.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.95 ¥141
$19.42 zł 70.7
2.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥60.6
$6.89 zł 25.09
24.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,267 ¥8,958
$317 zł 1,155
299.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32K ¥226.3K
$5,346 zł 19.5K
498.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 ¥413
$84.8 zł 309
-31.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.88 ¥268
$27.19 zł 99
39.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 ¥541
$86.4 zł 315
-11.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9 ¥678
$86.3 zł 314
11.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$961 ¥6,798
$536 zł 1,953
79.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$560 ¥3,958
$461 zł 1,679
21.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,502 ¥17.7K
$962 zł 3,505
159.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 ¥8,426
$851 zł 3,099
40.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.3K ¥100.8K
$2,326 zł 8,472
513.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,164 ¥50.7K
$2,043 zł 7,442
250.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,553 ¥11K
$1,299 zł 4,729
19.62%
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: November 29, 2025

Last update for Elk: November 30, 2025

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