Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Hangzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Hangzhou

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 7.6% more expensive than Hangzhou without rent, and 33.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 7.1% more expensive than Hangzhou without rent, and 29.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$3.52 ¥25.23
34.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$25.99 ¥186
39.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.95 ¥35.48
13.13%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.4 ¥24.41
4.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.52 ¥3.7
3.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.29 ¥2.1
24.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.12 ¥8.06
27.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.66 ¥11.89
66.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$2.03 ¥14.56
7.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.9 ¥13.61
-4.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.92 ¥6.63
19.57%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.71 ¥12.29
-1.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$17.18 ¥123
-8.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.68 ¥19.24
18.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$9.82 ¥70.5
10.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.97 ¥14.1
14.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.79 ¥12.85
-6.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.64 ¥11.75
8.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.24 ¥8.9
22.58%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.77 ¥5.52
10.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.98 ¥7.06
19.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.68 ¥4.87
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.53 ¥3.79
13.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$4.29 ¥30.75
-33.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$12.55 ¥90
-11.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.75 ¥5.37
6.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.63 ¥11.67
-4.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.5 ¥3.6
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$15.59 ¥112
125.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.79 ¥12.83
27.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.43 ¥3.07
-13.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.23 ¥44.69
30.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.13 ¥8.14
-3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.3K ¥138.6K
1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.7K ¥120.1K
8.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$43.69 ¥313
17.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$11.59 ¥83.2
-25.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$18.65 ¥134
-27.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$60.4 ¥433
-23.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$16.39 ¥118
24.71%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.39 ¥45.81
34.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$447 ¥3,206
192.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$28.8K ¥206.2K
9.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$56.7 ¥407
3.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$35.56 ¥255
4.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$71.8 ¥515
8.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$93.1 ¥668
5.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$518 ¥3,712
83.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$299 ¥2,144
91.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$1,136 ¥8,148
121.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$663 ¥4,754
81.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$7,808 ¥56K
84.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$4,275 ¥30.7K
66.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Hangzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$1,309 ¥9,389
17.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.83
-6.53%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Hangzhou: October 28, 2025

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