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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 38.7% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 71.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 23.8% more expensive than Lhasa without rent, and 73.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$3.54 ¥24.21

40.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$28.12 ¥192

28.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$6.98 ¥47.66

-22.35%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$3.03 ¥20.72

17.49%

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

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.44 ¥3.00

20.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.37 ¥2.51

-10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$1.28 ¥8.76

5.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$1.77 ¥12.11

55.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$2.10 ¥14.32

1.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$1.75 ¥11.94

5.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$0.79 ¥5.41

32.91%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$2.43 ¥16.58

-30.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$6.71 ¥45.80

132.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$2.71 ¥18.50

19.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$10.35 ¥70.7

4.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$2.13 ¥14.54

11.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$1.75 ¥11.98

-3.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

$1.36 ¥9.28

32.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$0.84 ¥5.72

76.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.71 ¥4.82

19.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.91 ¥6.22

28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.59 ¥4.05

5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.79 ¥5.38

-22.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$3.17 ¥21.64

-11.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$12.71 ¥86.8

-6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$0.74 ¥5.06

6.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.60 ¥10.93

-1.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.27 ¥1.82

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$16.84 ¥115

107.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.41 ¥9.61

58.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.26 ¥1.76

46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$6.64 ¥45.34

23.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.37 ¥9.33

-16.06%

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

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$19.4K ¥132.7K

2.37%

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

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$16.9K ¥115.2K

5.69%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$45.43 ¥310

14.90%

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

$8.70 ¥59.4

$9.89 ¥67.5

-12.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$15.31 ¥105

-11.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$41.83 ¥286

10.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$13.96 ¥95.4

46.49%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$7.62 ¥52.1

8.40%

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

$1,266 ¥8,649

$340 ¥2,323

272.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$16.8K ¥115.1K

89.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$29.72 ¥203

101.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$29.97 ¥205

27.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$67.7 ¥462

14.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$45.92 ¥314

109.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$278 ¥1,897

241.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$187 ¥1,279

205.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$581 ¥3,971

325.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$364 ¥2,489

230.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$3,165 ¥21.6K

345.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$1,983 ¥13.5K

263.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$1,237 ¥8,448

35.96%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Lhasa: 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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