Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Haikou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Haikou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Shanghai versus $804 in Haikou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,010 in Shanghai versus $1,136 in Haikou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,773 in Shanghai versus $1,468 in Haikou.

Living in Shanghai is roughly 55% more expensive than in Haikou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shanghai 9% lower, Haikou 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 ¥29.29

$4.37 ¥29.31

-0.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.84 ¥200

$15.16 ¥102

96.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ¥34.03

$6.03 ¥40.47

-15.92%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ¥22.71

$2.40 ¥16.09

40.83%

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

$0.59 ¥3.96

$0.80 ¥5.40

-26.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.44

$0.37 ¥2.46

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ¥7.76

$1.46 ¥9.78

-20.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ¥15.95

$2.69 ¥18.07

-11.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ¥13.89

$2.07 ¥13.86

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.22

$1.45 ¥9.75

35.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ¥6.49

$0.69 ¥4.60

40.58%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.25

$1.35 ¥9.07

24.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.91 ¥113

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ¥22.72

$3.91 ¥26.21

-13.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 ¥88.2

$15.82 ¥106

-16.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ¥15.59

$1.69 ¥11.31

37.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.72

$0.93 ¥6.24

88.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 ¥13.42

$1.09 ¥7.33

83.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.76

$0.91 ¥6.08

92.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ¥5.48

$0.83 ¥5.55

-1.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ¥6.73

$0.73 ¥4.90

36.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ¥4.35

$0.46 ¥3.09

41.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ¥4.35

$0.56 ¥3.77

16.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ¥29.59

$3.14 ¥21.04

40.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.17 ¥75.0

$8.86 ¥59.5

26.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.33

$0.57 ¥3.83

64.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ¥10.48

$1.22 ¥8.21

27.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 ¥3.89

$0.93 ¥6.27

-37.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.43 ¥197

$52.8 ¥354

-44.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.02

$2.22 ¥14.89

0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ¥2.88

$0.43 ¥2.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ¥58.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥8.41

$1.23 ¥8.27

1.63%

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

$19.7K ¥132.1K

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

$18.2K ¥122.3K

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

$61.6 ¥413

$35.52 ¥238

73.45%

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

$8.45 ¥56.7

$13.40 ¥89.9

-36.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.41 ¥69.9

$13.29 ¥89.2

-21.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 ¥467

$44.71 ¥300

55.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.38 ¥110

$6.17 ¥41.41

165.48%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 ¥59.3

$4.59 ¥30.79

92.59%

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

$1,383 ¥9,279

$865 ¥5,805

59.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K ¥181.1K

$19.5K ¥131.0K

38.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 ¥348

$26.31 ¥177

97.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.86 ¥254

$34.56 ¥232

9.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 ¥503

$43.97 ¥295

70.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ¥707

$37.48 ¥251

181.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ¥6,609

$371 ¥2,488

165.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,838

$293 ¥1,963

95.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 ¥16.6K

$582 ¥3,907

324.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 ¥8,034

$361 ¥2,422

231.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K ¥91.6K

$3,200 ¥21.5K

326.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,149 ¥41.3K

$2,158 ¥14.5K

184.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,734 ¥11.6K

$729 ¥4,891

137.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.35

3.85

-12.99%

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

Last update for Shanghai: August 30, 2026

Last update for Haikou: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Shanghai and $371 in Haikou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 138% 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 $15.00 in Haikou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $169 per month, with Haikou 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 Haikou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shanghai and Haikou differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $804 including rent). Haikou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 138% 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 $371 in Haikou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,247 per month in Shanghai versus $804 in Haikou – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Haikou runs roughly 79% less than in Shanghai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $804 in Haikou versus $1,247 in Shanghai, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Haikou but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Haikou 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 Haikou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.