Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Mianyang, Sichuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Mianyang, Sichuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,220 per month in Shanghai vs $666 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,946 per month in Shanghai vs $1,055 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,672 per month in Shanghai vs $1,443 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

Shanghai costs about 83% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Shanghai and Mianyang, Sichuan are more affordable than the global median – Shanghai 9% lower, Mianyang, Sichuan 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 ¥32.39

$2.84 ¥19.45

66.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.90 ¥253

$16.58 ¥114

122.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 ¥37.03

$4.92 ¥33.70

9.96%

Cappuccino

$3.42 ¥23.41

$2.78 ¥19.02

23.02%

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

$0.55 ¥3.76

$0.43 ¥2.93

27.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.32

$0.27 ¥1.84

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ¥9.63

$1.09 ¥7.49

29.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ¥19.67

$2.12 ¥14.52

35.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 ¥14.23

$1.42 ¥9.75

46.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.80 ¥12.30

$1.41 ¥9.69

27.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.18

$0.87 ¥5.94

20.69%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥11.14

$1.86 ¥12.71

-12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.36 ¥105

$13.87 ¥95.0

10.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.08 ¥21.10

$3.37 ¥23.06

-8.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.97 ¥75.1

$11.16 ¥76.5

-1.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.24

$1.88 ¥12.91

26.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ¥12.13

$1.18 ¥8.07

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.88

$1.45 ¥9.93

19.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ¥10.05

$1.06 ¥7.27

38.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 ¥5.37

$0.65 ¥4.47

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.71

$0.75 ¥5.14

50.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.63

$0.59 ¥4.02

15.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ¥4.10

$0.56 ¥3.84

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ¥19.28

$3.30 ¥22.61

-14.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.86 ¥81.2

$5.62 ¥38.49

111.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ¥5.45

$0.77 ¥5.27

3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ¥10.98

$1.23 ¥8.40

30.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥3.00

$0.27 ¥1.83

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.13 ¥241

$16.68 ¥114

110.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 ¥15.09

$0.95 ¥6.47

131.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 ¥2.80

$0.26 ¥1.79

57.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ¥56.5

$4.20 ¥28.75

96.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.56

$1.13 ¥7.75

-2.65%

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

$19.8K ¥135.7K

$19.0K ¥130.1K

4.29%

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

$18.1K ¥124.2K

$16.3K ¥111.5K

11.37%

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

$51.3 ¥351

$43.75 ¥300

17.21%

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

$8.47 ¥58.0

$6.26 ¥42.91

35.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.92 ¥95.4

$11.67 ¥80.0

19.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.61 ¥319

$41.11 ¥282

13.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.15 ¥138

$13.99 ¥95.9

44.03%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.6

$5.22 ¥35.74

58.24%

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

$1,309 ¥8,969

$339 ¥2,325

285.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K ¥219.3K

$12.3K ¥84.4K

159.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 ¥399

$36.95 ¥253

57.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.09 ¥261

$38.20 ¥262

-0.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 ¥540

$55.4 ¥380

42.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.4 ¥660

$50.3 ¥344

91.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 ¥6,595

$282 ¥1,933

241.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 ¥3,859

$185 ¥1,271

203.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,490 ¥17.1K

$593 ¥4,065

319.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 ¥8,198

$364 ¥2,494

228.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.8K ¥94.9K

$3,249 ¥22.3K

326.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,279 ¥49.9K

$1,787 ¥12.2K

307.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,671 ¥11.4K

$710 ¥4,865

135.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

3.1

15.48%

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

Last update for Shanghai: April 25, 2026

Last update for Mianyang, Sichuan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Shanghai versus $282 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 135% higher in Shanghai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Shanghai versus $17.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $189 – making Mianyang, Sichuan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mianyang, Sichuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,220 in Shanghai, $666 in Mianyang, Sichuan – roughly 83% apart. Shanghai costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,830 per month in Shanghai and $1,000 in Mianyang, Sichuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mianyang, Sichuan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,309 per month in Shanghai and $339 in Mianyang, Sichuan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Shanghai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mianyang, Sichuan, where all-in costs run around $666, than in Shanghai at $1,220. In Mianyang, Sichuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shanghai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mianyang, Sichuan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mianyang, Sichuan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shanghai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.