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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 8.7% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 60.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 20.9% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 68.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 ¥33.19

$3.40 ¥23.54

41.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.90 ¥248

$16.52 ¥114

117.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 ¥37.40

$4.24 ¥29.36

27.36%

Cappuccino

$3.58 ¥24.76

$2.27 ¥15.70

57.71%

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

$0.59 ¥4.05

$0.43 ¥2.98

37.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.33

$0.25 ¥1.74

36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ¥9.55

$0.88 ¥6.07

56.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ¥19.22

$2.03 ¥14.04

36.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.72

$1.60 ¥11.09

33.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.39

$1.60 ¥11.08

11.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.31

$1.19 ¥8.21

-10.92%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥11.31

$1.92 ¥13.29

-15.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.57 ¥108

$8.23 ¥56.9

89.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ¥21.43

$4.23 ¥29.24

-26.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 ¥76.1

$9.90 ¥68.5

11.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥15.63

$1.90 ¥13.13

18.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.98

$0.89 ¥6.14

94.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.50

$1.27 ¥8.77

42.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ¥10.05

$0.88 ¥6.11

64.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ¥5.44

$0.59 ¥4.10

33.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.81

$0.48 ¥3.33

135.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.71

$0.54 ¥3.70

25.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.89

$0.55 ¥3.78

1.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 ¥18.80

$2.83 ¥19.58

-3.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 ¥75.5

$9.59 ¥66.4

13.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.75

$0.73 ¥5.03

13.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ¥11.15

$1.69 ¥11.72

-4.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.98

$0.36 ¥2.50

19.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.22 ¥237

$41.19 ¥285

-16.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ¥15.02

$1.34 ¥9.29

61.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.61

$0.26 ¥1.78

46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.27 ¥57.2

$2.54 ¥17.56

225.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.64

$1.15 ¥7.95

-4.35%

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

$19.5K ¥135.2K

$19.5K ¥134.8K

0.32%

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

$17.9K ¥123.8K

$19.2K ¥132.9K

-6.85%

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

$53.1 ¥368

$41.00 ¥284

29.61%

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

$8.64 ¥59.8

$12.77 ¥88.4

-32.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.54 ¥93.7

$13.76 ¥95.2

-1.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.44 ¥321

$83.4 ¥577

-44.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.76 ¥137

$12.12 ¥83.9

63.04%

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 ¥58.2

$5.87 ¥40.61

43.44%

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

$1,265 ¥8,757

$253 ¥1,751

400.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.2K ¥215.6K

$9,108 ¥63.0K

242.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ¥403

$57.6 ¥399

1.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.31 ¥258

$30.22 ¥209

23.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥537

$61.3 ¥424

26.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ¥665

$74.5 ¥516

29.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 ¥6,573

$236 ¥1,632

302.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 ¥3,939

$178 ¥1,230

220.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,528 ¥17.5K

$481 ¥3,328

425.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ¥8,352

$357 ¥2,473

237.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.9K ¥96.2K

$3,754 ¥26.0K

270.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,247 ¥50.2K

$1,987 ¥13.7K

264.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,687 ¥11.7K

$967 ¥6,694

74.46%

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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Hefei: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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