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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 2.5% cheaper than Elk without rent, and 14.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shanghai is 10.1% cheaper than Elk without rent, and 4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.97 ¥33.95
$8.11 zł 29.11
-38.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥247
$40.82 zł 147
-11.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.42 ¥37.04
$6.82 zł 24.49
-20.53%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥24.31
$2.12 zł 7.60
67.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.64
$2.17 zł 7.78
-75.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ¥2.28
$1.07 zł 3.85
-69.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 ¥9.23
$4.02 zł 14.43
-66.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥18.87
$4.03 zł 14.47
-31.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.54
$1.02 zł 3.67
108.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ¥12.58
$1.29 zł 4.64
42.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 ¥7.19
$1.89 zł 6.77
-44.44%
Eggs
$1.68 ¥11.45
$2.62 zł 9.40
-35.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.58 ¥106
$4.91 zł 17.63
217.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.24 ¥22.13
$6.70 zł 24.05
-51.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.83 ¥74.0
$13.24 zł 47.53
-18.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 ¥16.22
$1.09 zł 3.92
117.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ¥11.57
$1.78 zł 6.41
-5.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.27
$2.01 zł 7.22
-10.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 ¥10.09
$2.75 zł 9.87
-46.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥5.83
$0.95 zł 3.42
-10.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥7.99
$1.14 zł 4.10
2.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ¥4.25
$1.38 zł 4.96
-55.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.15
$0.51 zł 1.85
19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 ¥19.17
$5.31 zł 19.05
-47.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.89 ¥81.2
$7.43 zł 26.69
60.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ¥5.38
$1.16 zł 4.17
-31.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ¥10.72
$1.33 zł 4.77
18.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥2.98
$1.07 zł 3.84
-58.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.93 ¥239
$32.46 zł 117
7.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ¥15.33
$2.11 zł 7.59
6.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.59
$0.49 zł 1.75
-22.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.23 ¥56.2
$13.71 zł 49.20
-39.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ¥7.87
$1.71 zł 6.13
-32.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K ¥135.8K
$32.5K zł 116.8K
-38.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K ¥121.8K
$30.6K zł 109.8K
-41.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 ¥357
$310 zł 1,114
-83.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.70 ¥59.4
$6.67 zł 23.94
30.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.58 ¥92.7
$13.61 zł 48.87
-0.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.31 ¥316
$36.21 zł 130
27.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.45 ¥140
$19.89 zł 71.4
2.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ¥56.5
$6.70 zł 24.05
23.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,266 ¥8,649
$311 zł 1,118
306.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.9K ¥218.2K
$5,326 zł 19.1K
499.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 ¥408
$85.8 zł 308
-30.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.23 ¥261
$26.69 zł 95.8
43.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 ¥527
$86.4 zł 310
-10.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.2 ¥657
$88.5 zł 318
8.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 ¥6,478
$534 zł 1,916
77.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$572 ¥3,908
$464 zł 1,665
23.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,473 ¥16.9K
$945 zł 3,392
161.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,206 ¥8,239
$869 zł 3,121
38.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.1K ¥96.2K
$2,391 zł 8,582
489.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,213 ¥49.3K
$2,037 zł 7,313
254.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Elk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,682 ¥11.5K
$1,291 zł 4,635
30.27%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Elk: April 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
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