Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Lanzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Lanzhou

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 18% more expensive than Lanzhou without rent, and 89.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 36.9% more expensive than Lanzhou without rent, and 90.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.11 ¥15.16
124.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$20.98 ¥150
72.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$6.21 ¥44.57
-9.82%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.99 ¥21.43
19.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.4 ¥2.86
35.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.27 ¥1.91
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.58 ¥4.18
146.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.65 ¥11.85
67.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.6 ¥11.46
36.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.52 ¥10.93
19.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.95 ¥6.8
15.79%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.86 ¥13.32
-9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$12.98 ¥93.1
21.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.02 ¥21.68
4.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$8.92 ¥64
21.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.73 ¥12.44
30.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.47 ¥10.58
13.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.28 ¥9.18
39.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$0.91 ¥6.55
67.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.51 ¥3.67
66.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.85 ¥6.1
37.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.48 ¥3.47
41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.56 ¥4.03
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.11 ¥22.33
-7.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$7.99 ¥57.3
39.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.74 ¥5.28
8.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.64 ¥11.75
-4.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.11
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$16.53 ¥119
112.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.35 ¥9.71
69.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.17 ¥1.22
117.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$2.56 ¥18.35
217.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.33 ¥9.53
-18.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.1K ¥137K
2.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.5K ¥118.4K
10.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$44.71 ¥321
15.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$9.78 ¥70.1
-11.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.78 ¥84.5
14.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$41.67 ¥299
11.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$14.18 ¥102
44.15%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.22 ¥44.63
37.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$334 ¥2,395
291.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$27.8K ¥199.4K
13.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$42.58 ¥305
38.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$30.64 ¥220
20.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$72.5 ¥520
7.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$41.05 ¥294
139.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$281 ¥2,014
239.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$156 ¥1,118
268.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$587 ¥4,210
328.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$275 ¥1,970
337.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$3,097 ¥22.2K
364.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,984 ¥14.2K
258.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Lanzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$603 ¥4,323
154.52%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lanzhou: October 27, 2025

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