Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
59
Cost of Living Index in Phuket
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Palau
For one person, living is cheaper in Shanghai: $1,250 a month against $1,985 in Palau, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. The total is higher in Palau despite lower rent and utilities.
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🙂 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 55.3% cheaper than Palau without rent, and 37.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shanghai is 42.1% cheaper than Palau without rent, and 30.7% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ¥30.40
$13.61 $13.61
-66.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.52 ¥197
$75.1 $75.1
-60.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.10 ¥34.08
$9.94 $9.94
-48.69%
Cappuccino
$3.42 ¥22.88
$4.04 $4.04
-15.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.11
$1.40 $1.40
-56.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.40
$1.05 $1.05
-65.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ¥8.07
$1.53 $1.53
-20.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ¥15.31
$2.14 $2.14
7.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 ¥12.46
$2.59 $2.59
-28.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.01 ¥13.45
$3.05 $3.05
-34.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ¥6.83
$0.26 $0.26
292.31%
Eggs
$1.72 ¥11.46
$6.35 $6.35
-72.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.19 ¥115
$9.95 $9.95
72.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 ¥22.39
$13.65 $13.65
-75.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 ¥85.5
$19.59 $19.59
-34.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ¥14.51
$5.37 $5.37
-59.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 ¥11.65
$2.26 $2.26
-23.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 ¥12.96
$5.57 $5.57
-65.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 ¥11.23
$16.51 $16.51
-89.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ¥5.17
$4.70 $4.70
-83.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.21
$3.40 $3.40
-72.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ¥4.16
$1.98 $1.98
-68.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.88
$1.74 $1.74
-66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.83 ¥25.60
$14.91 $14.91
-74.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.94 ¥73.1
$22.37 $22.37
-51.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥5.59
$3.49 $3.49
-75.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ¥10.71
$3.40 $3.40
-52.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 ¥3.92
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.27 ¥202
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-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 ¥13.77
$2.47 $2.47
-16.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 ¥3.13
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.80 ¥58.8
$5.86 $5.86
50.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ¥8.51
$1.92 $1.92
-33.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K ¥131.0K
$17.8K $17.8K
10.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K ¥124.2K
$15.2K $15.2K
22.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.2 ¥382
$170 $170
-66.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.06 ¥53.8
$52.3 $52.3
-84.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.52 ¥70.3
$198 $198
-94.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.6 ¥432
$79.3 $79.3
-18.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.63 ¥118
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Cinema Ticket
$8.84 ¥59.1
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,437 ¥9,605
$255 $255
464.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.1K ¥187.5K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ¥365
$84.0 $84.0
-34.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.43 ¥243
$65.4 $65.4
-44.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 ¥504
$195 $195
-61.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ¥695
$195 $195
-46.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,039 ¥6,945
$737 $737
40.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$589 ¥3,933
$530 $530
11.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,487 ¥16.6K
$2,156 $2,156
15.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 ¥8,268
$934 $934
32.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.6K ¥90.8K
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,191 ¥41.4K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Palau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,715 ¥11.5K
$773 $773
121.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.36
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shanghai: October 4, 2026
Last update for Palau: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Shanghai $589 47.1%
Palau $530 26.7% 9.9% $58
Groceries & Markets
Shanghai $237 19%
Palau $504 25.4% 113% $267
Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai $122 9.7%
Palau $243 12.2% 99.3% $121
Eating Out
Shanghai $107 8.6%
Palau $209 10.5% 94.7% $102
Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai $82 6.6%
Palau $79 * 4% 3.6% $3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai $76 6.1%
Palau $420 21.2% 454% $344
Getting Around
Shanghai $37 3%
Palau $2.5 * 0.1% 93.3% $35
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Shanghai $1.2K 44.8%
Palau $934 22.9% 24.5% $303
Groceries & Markets
Shanghai $551 19.9%
Palau $1.2K 28.7% 113% $620
Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai $270 9.8%
Palau $539 13.2% 99.3% $268
Eating Out
Shanghai $362 13.1%
Palau $802 19.7% 122% $441
Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai $182 6.6%
Palau $159 * 3.9% 13% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai $84 3%
Palau $473 11.6% 463% $389
Getting Around
Shanghai $75 2.7%
Palau $4.9 * 0.1% 93.4% $70
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇨🇳 Shanghai
🇵🇼 Palau
Weather
Population
24,870,895
21,729
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Shanghai Palau 2,980 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
- Shanghai
- Palau
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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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