Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Guangzhou (Canton) Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Guangzhou (Canton)

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 13.2% more expensive than Guangzhou (Canton) without rent, and 40.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 14.6% more expensive than Guangzhou (Canton) without rent, and 34.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 ¥33.92

$2.85 ¥20.47

65.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥259

$22.47 ¥161

60.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.6 ¥40.18

$5 ¥35.9

12.00%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥25.53

$3.04 ¥21.83

17.11%

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

$0.54 ¥3.9

$0.5 ¥3.55

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.59

$0.32 ¥2.32

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ¥10.25

$0.99 ¥7.08

44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥19.81

$1.71 ¥12.26

61.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ¥15.66

$1.99 ¥14.26

9.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ¥13

$2.08 ¥14.94

-12.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.1 ¥7.9

$1.28 ¥9.2

-14.06%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥12.1

$1.56 ¥11.22

8.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.79 ¥113

$18.79 ¥135

-15.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ¥22.76

$4.66 ¥33.43

-31.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 ¥78.1

$14.05 ¥101

-22.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥16.24

$2.12 ¥15.18

6.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ¥11.98

$1.27 ¥9.08

31.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.78

$1.97 ¥14.15

-9.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ¥10.94

$1.49 ¥10.65

2.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥6.09

$0.92 ¥6.6

-7.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥8.37

$1.09 ¥7.79

7.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.84

$0.56 ¥3.98

21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.6 ¥4.29

$0.65 ¥4.63

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ¥20.56

$3.76 ¥26.97

-23.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 ¥80

$8.68 ¥62.2

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.8 ¥5.73

$0.94 ¥6.76

-14.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ¥11.22

$1.38 ¥9.89

13.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.4 ¥2.89

$0.4 ¥2.9

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.15 ¥252

$25.55 ¥183

37.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ¥16.45

$1.63 ¥11.66

40.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.69

$0.37 ¥2.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ¥58.4

$6.29 ¥45.13

29.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥7.81

$1.12 ¥8.07

-2.68%

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

$19.5K ¥140.1K

$21.3K ¥152.6K

-8.16%

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

$18.2K ¥130.5K

$19.7K ¥141.4K

-7.72%

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

$51.6 ¥370

$60.4 ¥433

-14.64%

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

$8.68 ¥62.2

$12.91 ¥92.6

-32.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.5 ¥96.8

$11.46 ¥82.2

17.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.42 ¥333

$41.3 ¥296

12.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.44 ¥147

$14.04 ¥101

45.58%

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 ¥61.5

$6.42 ¥46.07

33.64%

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

$1,307 ¥9,378

$313 ¥2,242

318.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K ¥225.4K

$16.2K ¥116K

94.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ¥422

$41.46 ¥297

41.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.99 ¥265

$28.6 ¥205

29.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥558

$69.7 ¥500

11.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 ¥706

$60.7 ¥435

62.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 ¥6,827

$498 ¥3,571

91.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$574 ¥4,115

$273 ¥1,957

110.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,518 ¥18.1K

$1,124 ¥8,061

124.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 ¥8,614

$609 ¥4,372

97.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K ¥103.2K

$8,985 ¥64.4K

60.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,106 ¥51K

$3,445 ¥24.7K

106.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,534 ¥11K

$1,281 ¥9,187

19.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

4.08

-12.25%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Guangzhou (Canton): October 29, 2025

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