Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Mudanjiang Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Mudanjiang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,194 per month in Shanghai vs $699 in Mudanjiang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,972 per month in Shanghai vs $1,114 in Mudanjiang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,750 per month in Shanghai vs $1,530 in Mudanjiang, rent included.

Shanghai costs about 71% more than Mudanjiang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shanghai and Mudanjiang are more affordable than the global median – Shanghai 11% lower, Mudanjiang 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$2.86 ¥19.52

73.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$12.55 ¥85.7

188.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$5.73 ¥39.13

-5.41%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$2.99 ¥20.44

19.06%

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

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.40 ¥2.70

32.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.27 ¥1.84

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$0.87 ¥5.97

55.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$2.05 ¥13.97

34.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$1.78 ¥12.18

19.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$1.58 ¥10.81

16.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$0.89 ¥6.06

17.98%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$1.62 ¥11.08

3.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$12.96 ¥88.5

20.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$3.24 ¥22.12

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$10.04 ¥68.6

7.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$1.80 ¥12.30

31.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$1.20 ¥8.22

40.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

$1.36 ¥9.28

32.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$1.14 ¥7.78

29.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.69 ¥4.69

23.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.99 ¥6.74

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.59 ¥4.05

5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.51 ¥3.46

19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$3.04 ¥20.79

-7.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$10.47 ¥71.5

13.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$0.80 ¥5.45

-1.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.59 ¥10.89

-1.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.29 ¥2.01

51.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$16.64 ¥114

109.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.42 ¥9.69

57.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.33 ¥2.25

15.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$6.83 ¥46.67

20.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.17 ¥8.01

-1.71%

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

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$19.2K ¥130.9K

3.70%

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

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$16.5K ¥112.5K

8.24%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$45.08 ¥308

15.79%

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

$8.70 ¥59.4

$9.91 ¥67.7

-12.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$11.33 ¥77.4

19.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$41.21 ¥281

12.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$13.74 ¥93.8

48.84%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$6.33 ¥43.20

30.49%

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

$1,266 ¥8,649

$331 ¥2,258

282.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$16.7K ¥113.7K

91.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$42.74 ¥292

39.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$29.96 ¥205

27.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$71.1 ¥486

8.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$74.9 ¥511

28.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$281 ¥1,919

237.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$186 ¥1,270

207.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$581 ¥3,965

326.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$364 ¥2,483

231.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$3,182 ¥21.7K

342.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$2,207 ¥15.1K

226.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

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 Mudanjiang: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Shanghai versus $281 in Mudanjiang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Shanghai versus $13 in Mudanjiang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $197 – making Mudanjiang 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 Mudanjiang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shanghai costs about 71% more than Mudanjiang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,790 per month in Shanghai and $1,048 in Mudanjiang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,194 in Shanghai and $699 in Mudanjiang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 110% less in Mudanjiang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mudanjiang, where all-in costs run around $699, than in Shanghai at $1,194. In Mudanjiang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shanghai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mudanjiang – 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 Mudanjiang. 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.