Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Foshan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Foshan

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 14% more expensive than Foshan without rent, and 64.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 11.9% more expensive than Foshan without rent, and 58.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$3.23 ¥23.17
46.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$21.84 ¥157
65.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.91 ¥35.19
14.05%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.06 ¥21.98
16.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.47 ¥3.36
14.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.3 ¥2.18
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.12 ¥8.04
27.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.65 ¥11.86
67.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.81 ¥12.97
20.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$2.03 ¥14.57
-10.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$1.2 ¥8.6
-8.33%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.79 ¥12.83
-5.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$13.02 ¥93.4
21.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.93 ¥28.15
-19.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$13.64 ¥97.8
-20.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.79 ¥12.86
26.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.2 ¥8.61
39.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.8 ¥12.92
-1.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.37 ¥9.8
10.95%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$1.05 ¥7.54
-19.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$1.05 ¥7.52
11.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.75 ¥5.35
-9.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.6 ¥4.31
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.45 ¥24.71
-16.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$10.03 ¥71.9
11.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.97 ¥6.93
-17.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.4 ¥10.04
11.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.1
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$11.31 ¥81.1
210.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.72 ¥12.33
33.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.34 ¥2.47
8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.8 ¥48.76
19.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.17 ¥8.41
-6.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$21.1K ¥151.6K
-7.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$19.3K ¥138.5K
-5.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$67.5 ¥484
-23.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$9.84 ¥70.6
-11.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$12.81 ¥91.9
5.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$66.7 ¥479
-30.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$20.02 ¥144
2.10%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.36 ¥45.64
34.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$406 ¥2,915
221.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$18.7K ¥134.2K
67.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$43.89 ¥315
33.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$28.26 ¥203
30.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$68.6 ¥492
13.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$80.2 ¥575
22.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$276 ¥1,977
245.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$142 ¥1,022
302.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$571 ¥4,096
340.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$316 ¥2,268
279.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$4,114 ¥29.5K
249.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,773 ¥12.7K
300.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Foshan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$770 ¥5,526
99.08%
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 Foshan: October 27, 2025

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