Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Qingdao, Shandong Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Qingdao, Shandong

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 14.9% more expensive than Qingdao, Shandong without rent, and 59.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 16% more expensive than Qingdao, Shandong without rent, and 52.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$3.41 ¥24.46
38.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$18.17 ¥130
99.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.52 ¥32.4
23.89%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.42 ¥24.52
4.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.58 ¥4.14
-6.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.31 ¥2.23
16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.87 ¥6.24
64.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.03 ¥14.54
35.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.95 ¥14
11.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.52 ¥10.9
19.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.92 ¥6.59
19.57%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.89 ¥13.55
-10.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$14.68 ¥105
7.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$4.23 ¥30.37
-25.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.18 ¥73
6.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.37 ¥9.8
64.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.15 ¥8.26
45.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.91 ¥13.71
-6.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.01 ¥7.27
50.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.75 ¥5.36
13.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$1.09 ¥7.79
7.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.94 ¥6.72
-27.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.47 ¥3.37
27.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.98 ¥28.54
-27.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$13.84 ¥99.3
-19.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.04 ¥7.44
-23.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.58 ¥11.32
-1.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.3 ¥2.17
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$16.62 ¥119
111.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.43 ¥10.24
60.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.32 ¥2.27
15.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$7.5 ¥53.8
8.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.11 ¥7.98
-1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.9K ¥143K
-2.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$13.3K ¥95.2K
37.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$52.4 ¥376
-1.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$10.92 ¥78.4
-20.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$10.39 ¥74.5
29.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$26.42 ¥190
75.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$20.84 ¥149
-1.92%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.88 ¥49.31
24.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$336 ¥2,412
288.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$24.6K ¥176.6K
27.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$77.9 ¥559
-24.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$38.63 ¥277
-4.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$79.8 ¥572
-2.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$102 ¥735
-3.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$342 ¥2,456
177.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$190 ¥1,365
201.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$730 ¥5,233
245.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$415 ¥2,976
189.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$3,925 ¥28.2K
266.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,394 ¥17.2K
196.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Qingdao, Shandong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$941 ¥6,750
62.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.81
-6.04%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Qingdao, Shandong: October 29, 2025

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