Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Karamay Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Karamay

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 40.9% more expensive than Karamay without rent, and 68.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 12.6% more expensive than Karamay without rent, and 69.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.74 ¥19.67
72.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$20.49 ¥147
76.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.93 ¥35.38
13.59%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.09 ¥22.13
15.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.43 ¥3.08
25.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.29 ¥2.11
24.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.94 ¥6.74
52.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.04 ¥14.66
35.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.83 ¥13.14
19.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.53 ¥11
18.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.96 ¥6.89
14.58%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.62 ¥11.63
4.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$13.04 ¥93.5
21.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.14 ¥22.49
0.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.06 ¥72.2
8.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.73 ¥12.4
30.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.21 ¥8.7
38.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.37 ¥9.83
29.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.1 ¥7.88
38.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.68 ¥4.91
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.91 ¥6.5
28.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.59 ¥4.24
15.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.55 ¥3.92
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.16 ¥22.64
-9.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$10.69 ¥76.7
4.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.76 ¥5.44
5.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.66 ¥11.9
-6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.1
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$16.51 ¥118
112.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.42 ¥10.21
61.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.35 ¥2.52
5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.58 ¥47.2
23.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.17 ¥8.36
-6.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.6K ¥140.5K
-0.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$17K ¥122.1K
6.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$45.98 ¥330
12.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$9.73 ¥69.8
-10.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.33 ¥81.3
19.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$40.97 ¥294
13.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$14.21 ¥102
43.84%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.15 ¥44.09
39.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$341 ¥2,449
282.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$16.9K ¥121.3K
85.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$43.22 ¥310
36.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$30 ¥215
23.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$71.4 ¥512
8.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$73.2 ¥525
34.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$279 ¥2,004
240.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$186 ¥1,331
209.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$594 ¥4,258
324.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$358 ¥2,566
235.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,808 ¥20.1K
412.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,027 ¥14.5K
250.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Karamay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$552 ¥3,962
177.69%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Karamay: October 29, 2025

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