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: $1,224 in Shanghai versus $663 in Jieyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,975 in Shanghai versus $1,041 in Jieyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,727 in Shanghai versus $1,419 in Jieyang.

Living in Shanghai is roughly 85% more expensive than in Jieyang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Shanghai 8% lower, Jieyang 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 ¥32.74

$1.96 ¥13.27

146.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.37 ¥246

$12.00 ¥81.2

203.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.59 ¥37.79

$3.50 ¥23.67

59.71%

Cappuccino

$3.53 ¥23.90

$2.81 ¥19.04

25.62%

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

$0.58 ¥3.93

$0.44 ¥2.96

31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.27

$0.29 ¥1.95

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ¥9.29

$0.85 ¥5.76

61.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ¥19.22

$1.66 ¥11.22

71.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ¥14.68

$1.42 ¥9.58

52.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.46

$2.16 ¥14.62

-14.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.11

$0.82 ¥5.54

28.05%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.36

$0.82 ¥5.53

104.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.53 ¥105

$11.28 ¥76.3

37.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 ¥21.02

$2.37 ¥16.04

31.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.89 ¥73.7

$10.60 ¥71.7

2.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.01

$1.82 ¥12.34

30.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ¥11.55

$0.64 ¥4.32

167.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 ¥11.99

$0.94 ¥6.36

88.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ¥10.34

$1.85 ¥12.49

-17.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 ¥5.31

$0.92 ¥6.21

-15.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ¥7.49

$1.66 ¥11.21

-33.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.19

$0.40 ¥2.73

55.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ¥4.03

$0.55 ¥3.74

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 ¥18.42

$2.76 ¥18.65

-1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.01 ¥81.3

$11.00 ¥74.4

9.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥5.80

$0.74 ¥5.03

16.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ¥10.84

$1.65 ¥11.14

-3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.71

$0.29 ¥1.98

37.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.58 ¥234

$16.81 ¥114

105.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 ¥14.95

$0.88 ¥5.93

151.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.53

$0.15 ¥1.02

146.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ¥55.4

$6.87 ¥46.48

19.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥7.39

$0.93 ¥6.31

17.20%

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

$19.8K ¥134.1K

$12.0K ¥80.9K

65.76%

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

$17.9K ¥121.0K

$10.5K ¥71.3K

69.73%

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

$52.3 ¥354

$38.57 ¥261

35.65%

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

$8.55 ¥57.8

$9.91 ¥67.0

-13.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.63 ¥92.2

$11.54 ¥78.1

18.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.03 ¥311

$41.90 ¥283

9.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.43 ¥138

$13.70 ¥92.7

49.12%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥55.9

$5.47 ¥37.02

51.01%

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

$1,295 ¥8,761

$450 ¥3,044

187.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.8K ¥214.9K

$16.6K ¥112.4K

91.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥405

$19.19 ¥130

211.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.84 ¥256

$27.10 ¥183

39.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ¥525

$56.3 ¥381

37.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.6 ¥660

$81.0 ¥548

20.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$935 ¥6,324

$283 ¥1,912

230.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 ¥3,812

$190 ¥1,288

195.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,450 ¥16.6K

$589 ¥3,987

315.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,199 ¥8,111

$357 ¥2,413

236.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥95.6K

$3,109 ¥21.0K

354.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,632 ¥44.9K

$1,926 ¥13.0K

244.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,702 ¥11.5K

$1,081 ¥7,313

57.48%

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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Jieyang: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $935 in Shanghai and $283 in Jieyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shanghai pays 57% 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 $228 vs $189 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 85% 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.

Average pay runs 57% higher in Shanghai, 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: $935 in Shanghai versus $283 in Jieyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,224 per month in Shanghai versus $663 in Jieyang – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jieyang runs roughly 106% less than in Shanghai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $663 in Jieyang versus $1,224 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 85% less than in Shanghai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.