Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Ningbo Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Ningbo

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 1.7% more expensive than Ningbo without rent, and 45.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 7.1% more expensive than Ningbo without rent, and 47% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$3.14 ¥22.55
50.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$24.13 ¥173
49.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.07 ¥29.17
37.59%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.15 ¥22.6
13.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.45 ¥3.23
20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.26 ¥1.85
38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.93 ¥6.67
53.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.12 ¥15.2
30.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$2.06 ¥14.8
5.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$2.74 ¥19.69
-33.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.79 ¥5.66
39.24%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.39 ¥9.96
21.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$20.65 ¥148
-23.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$4.77 ¥34.25
-33.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$12 ¥86.1
-9.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.93 ¥13.86
17.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.42 ¥10.2
17.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$2.29 ¥16.46
-22.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.15 ¥8.25
32.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.67 ¥4.78
26.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.79 ¥5.63
48.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.59 ¥4.2
15.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.57 ¥4.06
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$5.43 ¥38.95
-47.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$11.24 ¥80.6
-0.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.1 ¥7.86
-27.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.98 ¥14.21
-21.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.09
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$16.49 ¥118
113.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.7 ¥12.16
34.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.35 ¥2.55
5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$7.23 ¥51.8
12.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.19 ¥8.5
-8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$21.4K ¥153.3K
-8.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$19.4K ¥139.3K
-6.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$64.7 ¥464
-20.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$15.55 ¥112
-44.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$7.01 ¥50.3
92.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$21.86 ¥157
112.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$12.75 ¥91.4
60.31%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$8.12 ¥58.2
5.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$603 ¥4,325
116.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$15.5K ¥111.1K
102.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$42.38 ¥304
38.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$29.76 ¥213
24.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$70.3 ¥504
10.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$61.5 ¥441
60.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$376 ¥2,695
153.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$262 ¥1,880
118.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$853 ¥6,119
195.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$485 ¥3,482
147.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$4,862 ¥34.9K
195.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$3,244 ¥23.3K
119.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Ningbo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$848 ¥6,084
80.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.85
-26.19%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Ningbo: October 27, 2025

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