Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Lhasa Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Lhasa

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 39.4% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 70.6% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 24.8% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 66.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 ¥33.92

$3.53 ¥25.31

33.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥259

$27.6 ¥198

31.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.6 ¥40.18

$6.78 ¥48.61

-17.40%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥25.53

$2.93 ¥21.01

21.50%

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

$0.54 ¥3.9

$0.4 ¥2.9

35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.59

$0.34 ¥2.41

5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ¥10.25

$1.27 ¥9.09

12.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥19.81

$1.77 ¥12.67

55.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ¥15.66

$2.04 ¥14.63

6.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ¥13

$1.73 ¥12.44

4.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.1 ¥7.9

$0.79 ¥5.67

39.24%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥12.1

$2.39 ¥17.16

-29.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.79 ¥113

$6.81 ¥48.88

131.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ¥22.76

$2.76 ¥19.77

14.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 ¥78.1

$10.12 ¥72.6

7.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥16.24

$2.2 ¥15.76

2.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ¥11.98

$1.66 ¥11.93

0.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.78

$1.4 ¥10.07

27.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ¥10.94

$0.83 ¥5.97

83.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥6.09

$0.65 ¥4.68

30.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥8.37

$0.91 ¥6.56

28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.84

$0.6 ¥4.31

13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.6 ¥4.29

$0.8 ¥5.73

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ¥20.56

$3.07 ¥22.02

-6.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 ¥80

$12.53 ¥89.9

-10.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.8 ¥5.73

$0.74 ¥5.32

8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ¥11.22

$1.6 ¥11.5

-2.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.4 ¥2.89

$0.27 ¥1.91

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.15 ¥252

$16.43 ¥118

113.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ¥16.45

$1.41 ¥10.11

62.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.69

$0.26 ¥1.86

42.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ¥58.4

$6.74 ¥48.38

20.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥7.81

$1.3 ¥9.34

-16.15%

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

$19.5K ¥140.1K

$19.7K ¥141.2K

-0.73%

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

$18.2K ¥130.5K

$16.8K ¥120.4K

8.36%

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

$51.6 ¥370

$46.59 ¥334

10.65%

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

$8.68 ¥62.2

$9.74 ¥69.9

-10.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.5 ¥96.8

$15.46 ¥111

-12.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.42 ¥333

$41.05 ¥294

13.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.44 ¥147

$13.78 ¥98.9

48.33%

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 ¥61.5

$7.78 ¥55.8

10.28%

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

$1,307 ¥9,378

$339 ¥2,434

285.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K ¥225.4K

$17.1K ¥123K

83.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ¥422

$29.8 ¥214

97.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.99 ¥265

$30.97 ¥222

19.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥558

$70 ¥502

10.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 ¥706

$45.75 ¥328

115.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 ¥6,827

$274 ¥1,964

247.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$574 ¥4,115

$188 ¥1,346

205.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,518 ¥18.1K

$602 ¥4,318

318.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 ¥8,614

$363 ¥2,604

230.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K ¥103.2K

$2,986 ¥21.4K

381.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,106 ¥51K

$2,034 ¥14.6K

249.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,534 ¥11K

$1,195 ¥8,574

28.32%

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 Lhasa: October 29, 2025

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