Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Kunming, Yunnan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Kunming, Yunnan

🙂 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 0.2% cheaper than Kunming, Yunnan without rent, and 47.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 12.1% more expensive than Kunming, Yunnan without rent, and 55.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.73 ¥19.6
73.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$27.92 ¥200
29.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$7.07 ¥50.7
-20.79%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.01 ¥21.57
18.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.46 ¥3.32
17.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.25 ¥1.78
44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.35 ¥9.69
5.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.04 ¥14.6
35.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.99 ¥14.3
9.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.69 ¥12.1
7.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$1.28 ¥9.22
-14.06%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.77 ¥12.69
-4.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$6.78 ¥48.63
132.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$4.2 ¥30.16
-24.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.97 ¥78.7
-0.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.27 ¥9.1
77.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$0.97 ¥6.97
72.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.36 ¥9.79
30.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.1 ¥7.86
38.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.34 ¥2.43
150.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.86 ¥6.15
36.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$1.58 ¥11.3
-56.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.63 ¥4.5
-4.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.05 ¥14.7
40.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$6.21 ¥44.52
79.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.72 ¥5.15
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.51 ¥10.82
3.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.62 ¥4.44
-35.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$34.53 ¥248
1.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.13 ¥8.11
102.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.26 ¥1.86
42.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$14 ¥100
-41.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.12 ¥8.05
-2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$20.5K ¥147.1K
-4.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$17.2K ¥123.5K
5.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$50.5 ¥362
2.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$15.33 ¥110
-43.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$16.36 ¥117
-17.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$68.7 ¥493
-32.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$26.55 ¥190
-23.01%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.36 ¥45.61
34.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$420 ¥3,010
211.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$13K ¥93.3K
141.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$69.2 ¥496
-15.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$33.41 ¥240
10.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$63.1 ¥453
23.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$104 ¥748
-5.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$282 ¥2,026
237.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$210 ¥1,508
172.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$505 ¥3,626
398.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$349 ¥2,504
244.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$3,306 ¥23.7K
335.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,358 ¥9,739
423.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$818 ¥5,864
87.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.45
-19.55%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Kunming, Yunnan: October 29, 2025

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