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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 14.2% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 62.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 22.7% more expensive than Hefei without rent, and 67.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$3.38 ¥23.09

47.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$16.98 ¥116

113.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$4.24 ¥28.95

27.83%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$2.38 ¥16.22

49.58%

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

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.43 ¥2.93

23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.23 ¥1.56

43.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$0.85 ¥5.84

58.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$2.05 ¥14.02

34.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$1.68 ¥11.46

26.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$1.60 ¥10.91

15.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$1.16 ¥7.90

-9.48%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$1.86 ¥12.68

-9.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$8.11 ¥55.4

92.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$4.25 ¥29.06

-23.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$10.00 ¥68.3

8.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$1.81 ¥12.35

30.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$0.90 ¥6.12

87.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

$1.22 ¥8.33

47.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$0.90 ¥6.13

64.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.64 ¥4.39

32.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.46 ¥3.11

154.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.53 ¥3.60

16.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.55 ¥3.74

10.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$2.73 ¥18.63

2.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$9.48 ¥64.7

25.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$0.69 ¥4.68

14.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.71 ¥11.70

-8.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.33 ¥2.27

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$42.53 ¥290

-17.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.29 ¥8.81

73.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.26 ¥1.76

46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$2.44 ¥16.64

237.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.15 ¥7.89

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

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$19.2K ¥131.1K

3.56%

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

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$19.4K ¥132.3K

-7.94%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$41.99 ¥287

24.32%

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

$8.70 ¥59.4

$12.79 ¥87.3

-31.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$13.75 ¥93.9

-1.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$82.2 ¥561

-43.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$12.37 ¥84.5

65.32%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$5.85 ¥39.94

41.20%

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

$1,266 ¥8,649

$252 ¥1,724

401.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$8,977 ¥61.3K

255.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$58.1 ¥396

2.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$30.47 ¥208

25.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$61.7 ¥421

25.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$73.9 ¥505

30.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$228 ¥1,559

315.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$180 ¥1,229

217.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$491 ¥3,350

404.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$366 ¥2,502

229.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$3,714 ¥25.4K

279.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$1,998 ¥13.6K

261.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$969 ¥6,617

73.57%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Hefei: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

Tbilisi

🇬🇪 Georgia

Cemagi, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Sanur, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Kuta, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Ankara

🇹🇷 Turkey

Izmir

🇹🇷 Turkey

Chisinau

🇲🇩 Moldova