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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 31.5% more expensive than Karamay without rent, and 69.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 34.9% more expensive than Karamay without rent, and 79% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$2.82 ¥19.29

76.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$20.50 ¥140

76.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$4.83 ¥32.99

12.22%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$2.98 ¥20.39

19.46%

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

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.47 ¥3.22

12.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.29 ¥2.00

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$0.93 ¥6.34

45.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$2.03 ¥13.89

35.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$1.86 ¥12.69

14.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$1.54 ¥10.53

19.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$0.90 ¥6.18

16.67%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$1.55 ¥10.61

8.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$12.80 ¥87.4

21.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$3.21 ¥21.93

0.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$10.30 ¥70.4

5.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$1.73 ¥11.84

36.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$1.22 ¥8.33

38.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

$1.37 ¥9.38

31.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$1.10 ¥7.51

34.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.72 ¥4.91

18.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.98 ¥6.72

19.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.61 ¥4.14

1.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.51 ¥3.50

19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$3.20 ¥21.83

-12.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$10.33 ¥70.5

15.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$0.75 ¥5.11

5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.65 ¥11.25

-4.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.29 ¥2.00

51.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$16.97 ¥116

105.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.42 ¥9.70

57.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.32 ¥2.22

18.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$6.65 ¥45.42

23.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.17 ¥7.99

-1.71%

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

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$19.3K ¥132.1K

2.83%

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

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$16.8K ¥114.7K

6.14%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$45.06 ¥308

15.85%

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

$8.70 ¥59.4

$9.87 ¥67.4

-11.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$11.35 ¥77.5

19.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$41.10 ¥281

12.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$13.85 ¥94.6

47.65%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$6.23 ¥42.56

32.58%

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

$1,266 ¥8,649

$341 ¥2,331

271.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$17.1K ¥116.6K

87.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$43.19 ¥295

38.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$30.05 ¥205

27.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$71.6 ¥489

7.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$74.1 ¥506

29.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$281 ¥1,922

237.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$187 ¥1,276

206.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$588 ¥4,019

320.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$364 ¥2,486

231.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$3,260 ¥22.3K

332.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$1,951 ¥13.3K

269.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$580 ¥3,958

190.18%

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 Karamay: April 12, 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

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