Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Kyoto Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Kyoto

🙂 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 31.3% cheaper than Kyoto without rent, and 9.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Shanghai is 20.7% cheaper than Kyoto without rent, and 10.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 ¥33.30

$10.36 ¥1,639

-53.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.92 ¥251

$34.33 ¥5,429

4.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 ¥38.01

$5.59 ¥884

-2.50%

Cappuccino

$3.42 ¥23.89

$3.39 ¥537

0.88%

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

$0.58 ¥4.07

$0.88 ¥139

-34.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.35

$0.79 ¥125

-56.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ¥9.91

$3.50 ¥554

-59.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ¥19.56

$6.69 ¥1,059

-58.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 ¥14.59

$1.67 ¥264

25.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 ¥12.92

$1.78 ¥281

3.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.66

$3.18 ¥503

-65.41%

Eggs

$1.60 ¥11.20

$2.34 ¥370

-31.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 ¥107

$9.58 ¥1,515

59.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 ¥21.53

$7.52 ¥1,190

-59.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 ¥75.8

$15.65 ¥2,475

-30.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 ¥16.30

$5.44 ¥860

-57.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ¥12.35

$2.56 ¥405

-30.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.42

$6.50 ¥1,028

-72.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ¥10.28

$3.82 ¥605

-61.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 ¥5.64

$1.58 ¥250

-48.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ¥8.10

$2.37 ¥374

-51.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ¥4.37

$1.25 ¥198

-49.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ¥4.17

$0.95 ¥150

-36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 ¥19.35

$4.24 ¥670

-34.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 ¥80.2

$7.54 ¥1,192

52.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.86

$1.80 ¥284

-53.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ¥11.27

$3.61 ¥570

-55.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.79

$1.67 ¥264

-76.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.13 ¥238

$69.4 ¥11.0K

-50.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ¥15.98

$3.39 ¥537

-32.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.63

$2.86 ¥452

-86.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.32 ¥58.1

$18.04 ¥2,853

-53.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥8.00

$1.19 ¥188

-3.36%

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

$19.7K ¥137.2K

$23.5K ¥3.7M

-16.24%

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

$18.3K ¥127.5K

$16.8K ¥2.7M

8.87%

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

$52.1 ¥363

$111 ¥17.6K

-53.21%

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

$8.79 ¥61.3

$26.68 ¥4,219

-67.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 ¥96.8

$33.70 ¥5,330

-58.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.42 ¥324

$59.0 ¥9,323

-21.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.78 ¥138

$20.93 ¥3,310

-5.49%

Cinema Ticket

$8.28 ¥57.8

$13.20 ¥2,087

-37.27%

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

$1,297 ¥9,056

$362 ¥57.3K

257.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K ¥215.7K

$7,500 ¥1.2M

311.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥417

$45.73 ¥7,232

30.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.03 ¥265

$32.24 ¥5,099

17.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ¥541

$73.3 ¥11.6K

5.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 ¥693

$93.3 ¥14.8K

6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥6,591

$587 ¥92.8K

60.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 ¥3,981

$350 ¥55.4K

62.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,460 ¥17.2K

$1,646 ¥260.2K

49.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 ¥8,401

$934 ¥147.7K

28.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K ¥99.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,080 ¥49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 ¥11.4K

$1,911 ¥302.3K

-14.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

1.78

101.12%

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

Last update for Shanghai: January 10, 2026

Last update for Kyoto: January 13, 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

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