Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Hefei Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Hefei

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 4.2% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 62.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 18.4% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 66.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 ¥33.92

$3.47 ¥24.89

36.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥259

$16.8 ¥121

115.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.6 ¥40.18

$4.26 ¥30.56

31.46%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥25.53

$2.25 ¥16.14

58.22%

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

$0.54 ¥3.9

$0.43 ¥3.08

25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.59

$0.23 ¥1.64

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ¥10.25

$0.8 ¥5.74

78.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥19.81

$2.04 ¥14.62

35.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ¥15.66

$1.61 ¥11.55

35.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ¥13

$1.59 ¥11.4

13.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.1 ¥7.9

$1.19 ¥8.52

-7.56%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥12.1

$1.85 ¥13.3

-8.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.79 ¥113

$8.13 ¥58.3

94.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ¥22.76

$4.25 ¥30.49

-25.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 ¥78.1

$10.27 ¥73.6

5.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥16.24

$1.83 ¥13.1

23.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ¥11.98

$0.89 ¥6.38

87.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.78

$1.28 ¥9.15

39.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ¥10.94

$0.84 ¥6.05

80.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥6.09

$0.64 ¥4.59

32.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥8.37

$0.48 ¥3.45

143.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.84

$0.52 ¥3.74

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.6 ¥4.29

$0.55 ¥3.92

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ¥20.56

$2.75 ¥19.74

4.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 ¥80

$6.88 ¥49.37

62.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.8 ¥5.73

$0.71 ¥5.09

12.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ¥11.22

$1.66 ¥11.89

-6.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.4 ¥2.89

$0.36 ¥2.61

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.15 ¥252

$42.22 ¥303

-16.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ¥16.45

$1.35 ¥9.71

69.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.69

$0.26 ¥1.85

42.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ¥58.4

$2.56 ¥18.34

217.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥7.81

$1.17 ¥8.38

-6.84%

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

$19.5K ¥140.1K

$19.3K ¥138.5K

1.15%

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

$18.2K ¥130.5K

$19.2K ¥137.7K

-5.22%

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

$51.6 ¥370

$41.36 ¥297

24.64%

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

$8.68 ¥62.2

$12.99 ¥93.2

-33.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.5 ¥96.8

$14.02 ¥101

-3.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.42 ¥333

$82.6 ¥593

-43.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.44 ¥147

$12.14 ¥87.1

68.37%

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 ¥61.5

$5.88 ¥42.17

45.92%

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

$1,307 ¥9,378

$260 ¥1,863

403.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K ¥225.4K

$8,963 ¥64.3K

250.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ¥422

$59.2 ¥424

-0.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.99 ¥265

$30.37 ¥218

21.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥558

$60.6 ¥434

28.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 ¥706

$73.3 ¥526

34.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 ¥6,827

$229 ¥1,642

315.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$574 ¥4,115

$176 ¥1,263

225.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,518 ¥18.1K

$493 ¥3,536

410.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 ¥8,614

$364 ¥2,610

230.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K ¥103.2K

$3,659 ¥26.2K

293.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,106 ¥51K

$2,202 ¥15.8K

222.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,534 ¥11K

$917 ¥6,575

67.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

4.37

-18.08%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Hefei: October 29, 2025

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