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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 6.1% more expensive than Kunming, Yunnan without rent, and 45.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 11.3% more expensive than Kunming, Yunnan without rent, and 61.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$2.72 ¥18.56

82.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$28.39 ¥194

27.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$7.06 ¥48.19

-23.23%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$3.05 ¥20.86

16.72%

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

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.43 ¥2.95

23.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.25 ¥1.70

32.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$1.42 ¥9.70

-4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$2.13 ¥14.57

29.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$1.94 ¥13.24

9.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$1.67 ¥11.43

10.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$1.29 ¥8.79

-18.60%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$1.72 ¥11.72

-2.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$7.10 ¥48.52

119.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$4.20 ¥28.70

-22.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$10.72 ¥73.3

1.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$1.31 ¥8.93

80.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$0.96 ¥6.55

76.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

$1.42 ¥9.70

26.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$1.09 ¥7.46

35.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.33 ¥2.28

157.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.82 ¥5.57

42.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$1.58 ¥10.76

-60.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.59 ¥4.02

3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$2.15 ¥14.68

30.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$6.67 ¥45.57

78.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$0.73 ¥4.96

8.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.55 ¥10.59

1.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.64 ¥4.38

-31.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$34.50 ¥236

1.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.13 ¥7.72

98.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.26 ¥1.77

46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$13.91 ¥95.0

-40.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.12 ¥7.67

2.68%

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

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$20.3K ¥138.4K

-1.92%

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

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$17.4K ¥119.0K

2.31%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$50.7 ¥346

3.00%

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

$8.70 ¥59.4

$15.76 ¥108

-44.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$16.18 ¥111

-16.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$69.9 ¥478

-33.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$26.38 ¥180

-22.48%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$6.37 ¥43.50

29.67%

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

$1,266 ¥8,649

$418 ¥2,852

203.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$12.8K ¥87.7K

148.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$69.8 ¥477

-14.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$32.86 ¥224

16.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$62.9 ¥430

22.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$106 ¥727

-9.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$275 ¥1,878

244.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$209 ¥1,425

174.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$516 ¥3,521

379.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$354 ¥2,421

240.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$2,962 ¥20.2K

375.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$1,372 ¥9,372

425.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$882 ¥6,025

90.64%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Kunming, Yunnan: April 13, 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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