Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Harbin Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Harbin

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 13.4% more expensive than Harbin without rent, and 42.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shanghai is 2.4% cheaper than Harbin without rent, and 38.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.81 ¥20.13
68.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$21.29 ¥153
69.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$5.26 ¥37.74
6.46%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.67 ¥19.13
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.45 ¥3.2
20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.27 ¥1.92
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.89 ¥6.38
60.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.72 ¥12.35
60.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.87 ¥13.39
16.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.89 ¥13.57
-4.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.95 ¥6.84
15.79%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.28 ¥9.21
32.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$10.41 ¥74.7
51.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.66 ¥26.27
-13.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.87 ¥78
0.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.52 ¥18.09
-10.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.74 ¥12.49
-4.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$2.43 ¥17.43
-26.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.05 ¥7.54
44.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.78 ¥5.57
8.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$1.77 ¥12.7
-33.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.37 ¥2.63
83.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.73 ¥5.27
-17.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.43 ¥17.44
18.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$11.82 ¥84.8
-5.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.59 ¥4.21
35.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$2.36 ¥16.92
-33.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.27 ¥1.92
48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$10.7 ¥76.7
228.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.28 ¥9.18
78.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.35 ¥2.53
5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$9.57 ¥68.7
-14.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.16 ¥8.31
-6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$13.8K ¥99.2K
41.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$12.5K ¥89.6K
45.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$56 ¥401
-7.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$13.71 ¥98.3
-36.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$15.73 ¥113
-14.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$95 ¥682
-51.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$27.68 ¥199
-26.16%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$5.47 ¥39.24
56.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$229 ¥1,643
470.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$10.7K ¥76.4K
195.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$69.6 ¥499
-15.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$29.6 ¥212
24.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$77.1 ¥553
0.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$153 ¥1,101
-35.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$302 ¥2,166
215.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$224 ¥1,606
156.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$1,322 ¥9,479
90.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$481 ¥3,452
149.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,974 ¥21.3K
383.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,271 ¥9,119
458.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Harbin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$870 ¥6,240
76.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
5.79
-38.17%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Harbin: October 27, 2025

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