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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 30.5% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 69.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 40% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 74.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 ¥33.35

$3.39 ¥23.68

40.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.92 ¥251

$27.48 ¥192

30.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 ¥38.07

$6.78 ¥47.40

-19.62%

Cappuccino

$3.42 ¥23.93

$2.92 ¥20.44

17.12%

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

$0.58 ¥4.08

$0.40 ¥2.81

45.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.36

$0.36 ¥2.54

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ¥9.92

$1.28 ¥8.96

10.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ¥19.59

$1.78 ¥12.43

57.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 ¥14.61

$1.99 ¥13.92

5.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 ¥12.94

$1.66 ¥11.61

11.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.67

$0.73 ¥5.12

50.68%

Eggs

$1.60 ¥11.21

$2.39 ¥16.70

-33.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 ¥107

$6.70 ¥46.84

128.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 ¥21.56

$2.75 ¥19.21

12.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 ¥75.9

$10.10 ¥70.6

7.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 ¥16.32

$2.14 ¥14.95

8.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ¥12.37

$1.67 ¥11.64

5.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.43

$1.36 ¥9.50

30.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ¥10.29

$0.78 ¥5.43

88.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 ¥5.65

$0.70 ¥4.88

15.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ¥8.11

$0.92 ¥6.43

26.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ¥4.38

$0.57 ¥3.97

10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ¥4.17

$0.78 ¥5.48

-23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 ¥19.38

$3.04 ¥21.25

-8.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.49 ¥80.3

$12.77 ¥89.3

-10.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ¥5.87

$0.79 ¥5.55

6.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ¥11.29

$1.66 ¥11.61

-3.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ¥2.79

$0.27 ¥1.88

48.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.13 ¥239

$16.62 ¥116

105.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ¥16.00

$1.36 ¥9.53

68.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.64

$0.28 ¥1.97

35.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.32 ¥58.2

$6.84 ¥47.84

21.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥8.01

$1.31 ¥9.13

-12.21%

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

$19.7K ¥137.4K

$19.5K ¥136.4K

0.68%

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

$18.3K ¥127.7K

$16.7K ¥116.6K

9.44%

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

$52.1 ¥364

$45.30 ¥317

14.90%

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

$8.79 ¥61.4

$9.66 ¥67.5

-9.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 ¥96.9

$15.26 ¥107

-9.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.42 ¥325

$42.14 ¥295

10.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.78 ¥138

$13.78 ¥96.3

43.54%

Cinema Ticket

$8.28 ¥57.9

$7.44 ¥52.0

11.29%

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

$1,297 ¥9,069

$339 ¥2,368

282.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K ¥216.0K

$16.8K ¥117.2K

84.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥418

$29.72 ¥208

101.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.03 ¥266

$30.41 ¥213

25.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ¥541

$69.9 ¥489

10.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.3 ¥694

$45.38 ¥317

118.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 ¥6,600

$278 ¥1,944

239.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 ¥3,986

$188 ¥1,315

203.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,460 ¥17.2K

$597 ¥4,170

312.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 ¥8,413

$366 ¥2,560

228.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K ¥99.6K

$3,432 ¥24.0K

315.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,080 ¥49.5K

$1,961 ¥13.7K

261.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 ¥11.4K

$1,197 ¥8,367

36.35%

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: January 10, 2026

Last update for Lhasa: January 11, 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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