Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Jilin Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Jilin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,194 per month in Shanghai vs $699 in Jilin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,972 per month in Shanghai vs $1,119 in Jilin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,750 per month in Shanghai vs $1,539 in Jilin, rent included.

Shanghai costs about 71% more than Jilin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shanghai and Jilin are more affordable than the global median – Shanghai 11% lower, Jilin 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$2.85 ¥19.45

74.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$21.10 ¥144

71.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$4.74 ¥32.34

14.35%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$3.27 ¥22.32

8.87%

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

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.44 ¥2.99

20.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.22 ¥1.50

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$1.14 ¥7.80

18.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$2.10 ¥14.36

31.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$1.70 ¥11.59

25.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$1.55 ¥10.58

18.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$0.91 ¥6.18

15.38%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$1.64 ¥11.18

2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$12.60 ¥86.1

23.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$3.06 ¥20.92

5.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$10.36 ¥70.8

4.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$1.75 ¥11.94

35.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$1.20 ¥8.16

40.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

$1.37 ¥9.33

31.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$1.12 ¥7.67

32.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.69 ¥4.70

23.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.96 ¥6.59

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.60 ¥4.07

3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.54 ¥3.70

12.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$3.09 ¥21.07

-9.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$10.27 ¥70.1

15.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$0.81 ¥5.52

-2.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.64 ¥11.20

-4.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.27 ¥1.84

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$16.88 ¥115

106.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.01 ¥6.90

121.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.32 ¥2.21

18.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$6.60 ¥45.09

24.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.16 ¥7.94

-0.86%

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

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$19.6K ¥133.9K

1.39%

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

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$16.4K ¥111.9K

8.86%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$46.28 ¥316

12.79%

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

$8.70 ¥59.4

$9.97 ¥68.1

-12.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$11.35 ¥77.5

19.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$41.92 ¥286

10.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$14.04 ¥95.9

45.66%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$6.44 ¥43.99

28.26%

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

$1,266 ¥8,649

$339 ¥2,318

273.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$17.0K ¥115.9K

88.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$43.08 ¥294

38.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$30.15 ¥206

26.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$72.8 ¥497

6.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$74.4 ¥508

29.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$282 ¥1,929

235.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$187 ¥1,280

205.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$581 ¥3,970

325.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$359 ¥2,450

236.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$3,250 ¥22.2K

333.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$2,129 ¥14.5K

238.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$447 ¥3,056

275.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

3.87

-7.49%

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

Last update for Shanghai: April 12, 2026

Last update for Jilin: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Shanghai versus $282 in Jilin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 276% higher in Shanghai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Shanghai versus $21 in Jilin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $195 – making Jilin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jilin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shanghai costs about 71% more than Jilin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,790 per month in Shanghai and $1,049 in Jilin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jilin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,266 per month in Shanghai and $339 in Jilin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Shanghai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jilin, where all-in costs run around $699, than in Shanghai at $1,194. In Jilin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shanghai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jilin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Jilin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shanghai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.