Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Jieyang Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Jieyang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,209 in Shanghai versus $651 in Jieyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,979 in Shanghai versus $1,013 in Jieyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,749 in Shanghai versus $1,374 in Jieyang.

Living in Shanghai is roughly 86% more expensive than Jieyang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shanghai 10% lower, Jieyang 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.90 ¥33.17

$1.98 ¥13.40

147.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.30 ¥246

$11.76 ¥79.6

208.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ¥37.83

$3.44 ¥23.30

62.50%

Cappuccino

$3.55 ¥24.03

$2.73 ¥18.46

30.04%

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

$0.57 ¥3.88

$0.44 ¥2.98

29.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.46

$0.29 ¥1.93

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ¥9.66

$0.85 ¥5.76

68.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 ¥19.25

$1.65 ¥11.14

72.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 ¥14.60

$1.41 ¥9.53

53.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 ¥12.02

$2.16 ¥14.60

-17.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.42

$0.82 ¥5.53

34.15%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥11.44

$0.81 ¥5.45

108.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.30 ¥104

$11.33 ¥76.6

35.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ¥21.12

$2.30 ¥15.54

35.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.76 ¥72.8

$10.90 ¥73.7

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥15.29

$1.88 ¥12.74

20.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ¥11.31

$0.64 ¥4.33

160.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.17

$0.94 ¥6.34

91.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.35

$1.93 ¥13.04

-20.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 ¥5.46

$0.92 ¥6.20

-11.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ¥7.52

$1.71 ¥11.55

-35.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.61

$0.44 ¥2.98

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.76

$0.51 ¥3.44

9.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 ¥19.19

$2.76 ¥18.70

2.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 ¥78.5

$11.03 ¥74.6

5.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.32

$0.78 ¥5.31

1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ¥11.07

$1.64 ¥11.11

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.94

$0.29 ¥1.98

48.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.41 ¥233

$17.00 ¥115

102.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 ¥14.92

$0.86 ¥5.80

156.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.55

$0.14 ¥0.94

171.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.38 ¥56.7

$6.60 ¥44.65

26.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥7.71

$0.93 ¥6.32

22.58%

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

$19.5K ¥132.2K

$12.0K ¥81.1K

62.95%

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

$18.1K ¥122.8K

$10.5K ¥71.0K

73.03%

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

$52.8 ¥357

$39.67 ¥268

33.12%

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

$8.53 ¥57.7

$9.76 ¥66.0

-12.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.84 ¥93.6

$11.38 ¥77.0

21.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.02 ¥318

$41.94 ¥284

12.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.81 ¥134

$13.83 ¥93.6

43.24%

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 ¥57.2

$5.41 ¥36.63

56.38%

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

$1,303 ¥8,813

$455 ¥3,081

186.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K ¥213.6K

$17.3K ¥116.8K

82.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 ¥403

$19.54 ¥132

204.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.09 ¥258

$27.30 ¥185

39.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ¥533

$55.1 ¥373

42.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 ¥671

$81.6 ¥552

21.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$933 ¥6,309

$277 ¥1,876

236.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 ¥3,856

$185 ¥1,253

207.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,490 ¥16.8K

$582 ¥3,938

327.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 ¥8,066

$360 ¥2,434

231.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.0K ¥94.6K

$3,150 ¥21.3K

344.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,729 ¥45.5K

$1,772 ¥12.0K

279.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,689 ¥11.4K

$1,058 ¥7,159

59.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

3.56

0.56%

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

Last update for Shanghai: June 2, 2026

Last update for Jieyang: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Shanghai and $277 in Jieyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 60% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Shanghai vs $12.00 in Jieyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $190 per month, with Jieyang cheaper across the board.

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 Jieyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jieyang wins on cost – living expenses run 86% lower than in Shanghai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jieyang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Shanghai pays 60% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $933 in Shanghai versus $277 in Jieyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,209 per month in Shanghai versus $651 in Jieyang – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jieyang runs roughly 102% less than in Shanghai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $651 in Jieyang versus $1,209 in Shanghai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jieyang but tight or insufficient in Shanghai. The gap between the two cities makes Jieyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Jieyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.