Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Fuzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Fuzhou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Shanghai versus $740 in Fuzhou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,010 in Shanghai versus $1,193 in Fuzhou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,773 in Shanghai versus $1,646 in Fuzhou.

Living in Shanghai is roughly 69% more expensive than in Fuzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shanghai 9% lower, Fuzhou 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 ¥29.29

$2.94 ¥19.72

48.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.84 ¥200

$23.25 ¥156

28.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ¥34.03

$5.25 ¥35.24

-3.43%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ¥22.71

$2.51 ¥16.85

34.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥3.96

$0.47 ¥3.15

25.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.44

$0.29 ¥1.97

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ¥7.76

$0.86 ¥5.75

34.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ¥15.95

$1.73 ¥11.62

37.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ¥13.89

$1.98 ¥13.28

4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.22

$1.41 ¥9.47

39.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ¥6.49

$0.98 ¥6.56

-1.02%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.25

$1.62 ¥10.87

3.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.91 ¥113

$7.54 ¥50.6

124.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ¥22.72

$2.84 ¥19.06

19.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 ¥88.2

$9.44 ¥63.4

39.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ¥15.59

$1.78 ¥11.95

30.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.72

$1.27 ¥8.50

37.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 ¥13.42

$1.67 ¥11.23

19.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.76

$1.11 ¥7.42

57.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ¥5.48

$0.87 ¥5.84

-5.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ¥6.73

$1.03 ¥6.91

-2.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ¥4.35

$0.47 ¥3.12

38.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ¥4.35

$0.49 ¥3.27

32.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ¥29.59

$3.00 ¥20.16

47.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.17 ¥75.0

$11.06 ¥74.2

0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.33

$0.76 ¥5.13

23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ¥10.48

$1.21 ¥8.13

28.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 ¥3.89

$0.31 ¥2.11

87.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.43 ¥197

$24.11 ¥162

22.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.02

$1.46 ¥9.83

53.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ¥2.88

$0.31 ¥2.09

38.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ¥58.8

$7.18 ¥48.19

22.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥8.41

$1.26 ¥8.48

-0.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.7K ¥132.1K

$19.4K ¥130.5K

1.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.2K ¥122.3K

$15.6K ¥104.9K

16.64%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$61.6 ¥413

$43.06 ¥289

43.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.45 ¥56.7

$8.41 ¥56.5

0.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.41 ¥69.9

$9.10 ¥61.0

14.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 ¥467

$42.05 ¥282

65.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.38 ¥110

$15.14 ¥102

8.19%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 ¥59.3

$7.42 ¥49.75

19.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,383 ¥9,278

$208 ¥1,398

563.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K ¥181.1K

$11.7K ¥78.7K

130.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 ¥348

$39.49 ¥265

31.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.86 ¥254

$29.04 ¥195

30.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 ¥503

$92.0 ¥617

-18.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ¥707

$86.1 ¥578

22.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ¥6,608

$430 ¥2,887

128.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,838

$238 ¥1,597

140.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 ¥16.6K

$1,037 ¥6,955

138.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 ¥8,034

$468 ¥3,137

156.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K ¥91.6K

$4,594 ¥30.8K

197.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,149 ¥41.3K

$2,263 ¥15.2K

171.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,734 ¥11.6K

$992 ¥6,656

74.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.35

3.22

4.04%

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

Last update for Shanghai: August 30, 2026

Last update for Fuzhou: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Shanghai and $430 in Fuzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 75% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Shanghai vs $23.00 in Fuzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $179 per month, with Fuzhou cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Shanghai vs Fuzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fuzhou wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Shanghai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fuzhou the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 75% higher in Shanghai, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Shanghai versus $430 in Fuzhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Fuzhou – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $30.00 in Shanghai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Shanghai versus $740 in Fuzhou – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $740 in Fuzhou versus $1,247 in Shanghai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fuzhou but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Fuzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Fuzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.