Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Nanjing Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Nanjing

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 25.6% more expensive than Nanjing without rent, and 46% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 21% more expensive than Nanjing without rent, and 50.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.83 ¥20.28
67.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$22.06 ¥158
63.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.73 ¥33.89
18.39%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.19 ¥22.91
11.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.42 ¥3
28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.24 ¥1.7
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.87 ¥6.21
64.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.11 ¥15.16
30.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$2.31 ¥16.57
-5.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$2.11 ¥15.1
-14.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.81 ¥5.78
35.80%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.49 ¥10.66
13.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$8.95 ¥64.2
76.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.72 ¥19.53
16.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$8.92 ¥64
21.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.17 ¥15.54
4.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.41 ¥10.12
18.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.59 ¥11.4
11.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.21 ¥8.68
25.62%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.86 ¥6.14
-1.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.91 ¥6.49
28.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.87 ¥6.23
-21.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.61 ¥4.37
-1.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.38 ¥24.24
-15.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$14.2 ¥102
-21.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.87 ¥6.24
-8.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.49 ¥10.7
4.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.27 ¥1.91
48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$27.69 ¥199
26.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.48 ¥10.65
54.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.36 ¥2.56
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$8.18 ¥58.7
-0.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.16 ¥8.33
-6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$17.1K ¥122.5K
14.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$14.7K ¥105.3K
24.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$42.6 ¥306
21.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$10.73 ¥77
-19.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$10.93 ¥78.4
23.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$26.77 ¥192
73.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$29.37 ¥211
-30.41%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$5.45 ¥39.11
57.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$404 ¥2,898
223.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$18.8K ¥135K
67.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$43.35 ¥311
35.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$32.83 ¥235
12.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$67.6 ¥485
14.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$84.6 ¥607
16.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$428 ¥3,068
122.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$309 ¥2,217
85.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$901 ¥6,459
179.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$549 ¥3,940
118.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$6,207 ¥44.5K
131.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$3,352 ¥24K
111.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Nanjing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$1,103 ¥7,912
39.06%
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 Nanjing: October 28, 2025

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