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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 5.6% more expensive than Kunming, Yunnan without rent, and 52.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 8.1% more expensive than Kunming, Yunnan without rent, and 55.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.19
$2.76 ¥19.13
73.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$27.51 ¥190
30.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.40
$6.86 ¥47.48
-21.28%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.76
$3.14 ¥21.72
14.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.05
$0.46 ¥3.21
28.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$0.25 ¥1.72
36.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.55
$1.40 ¥9.71
-1.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.22
$2.14 ¥14.80
29.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.72
$1.93 ¥13.34
10.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.39
$1.66 ¥11.50
7.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.31
$1.30 ¥8.97
-18.46%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.31
$1.79 ¥12.42
-8.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$7.16 ¥49.56
117.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.43
$4.27 ¥29.54
-27.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.1
$10.65 ¥73.7
3.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.63
$1.27 ¥8.80
77.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.98
$0.91 ¥6.27
90.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$1.38 ¥9.54
31.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.05
$1.14 ¥7.88
27.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.34 ¥2.32
132.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.81
$0.81 ¥5.61
39.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.71
$1.52 ¥10.49
-55.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.57 ¥3.96
-1.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.80
$2.05 ¥14.18
32.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.5
$6.51 ¥45.02
67.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$0.75 ¥5.21
10.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.15
$1.49 ¥10.34
8.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.61 ¥4.23
-29.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥237
$35.23 ¥244
-2.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥15.02
$1.09 ¥7.57
99.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.61
$0.28 ¥1.95
35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.2
$14.17 ¥98.1
-41.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.64
$1.18 ¥8.14
-6.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.2K
$20.4K ¥141.3K
-4.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.8K
$17.2K ¥118.7K
4.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥368
$51.4 ¥355
3.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.8
$15.33 ¥106
-43.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.7
$16.45 ¥114
-17.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$69.0 ¥478
-32.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$26.39 ¥183
-25.12%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$6.29 ¥43.54
33.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,757
$420 ¥2,905
201.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.6K
$13.1K ¥90.4K
138.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$69.9 ¥484
-16.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$33.24 ¥230
12.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$64.1 ¥444
21.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥665
$105 ¥723
-8.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,573
$275 ¥1,904
245.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,939
$207 ¥1,430
175.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$508 ¥3,512
398.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,352
$343 ¥2,375
251.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.2K
$2,992 ¥20.7K
364.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.2K
$1,471 ¥10.2K
392.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Kunming, Yunnan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$856 ¥5,924
97.12%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Kunming, Yunnan: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities