Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Quanzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Quanzhou

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 18.3% more expensive than Quanzhou without rent, and 58.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 20% more expensive than Quanzhou without rent, and 81.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.19
$2.11 ¥14.57
127.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$23.12 ¥160
55.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.40
$5.71 ¥39.53
-5.43%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.76
$2.83 ¥19.60
26.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.05
$0.51 ¥3.54
15.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$0.29 ¥2.01
17.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.55
$1.36 ¥9.39
1.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.22
$2.94 ¥20.31
-5.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.72
$1.41 ¥9.73
51.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.39
$0.67 ¥4.65
167.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.31
$0.81 ¥5.62
30.86%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.31
$1.18 ¥8.17
38.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$11.09 ¥76.8
40.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.43
$2.36 ¥16.35
31.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.1
$11.20 ¥77.5
-1.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.63
$2.47 ¥17.07
-8.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.98
$1.08 ¥7.50
60.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$1.57 ¥10.89
15.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.05
$1.84 ¥12.76
-21.20%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.96 ¥6.67
-17.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.81
$1.68 ¥11.63
-32.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.71
$0.82 ¥5.71
-17.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.55 ¥3.82
1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.80
$2.82 ¥19.50
-3.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.5
$7.06 ¥48.85
54.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$0.73 ¥5.07
13.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.15
$1.63 ¥11.28
-1.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.29 ¥2.01
48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥237
$33.99 ¥235
0.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥15.02
$1.13 ¥7.80
92.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.61
$0.28 ¥1.94
35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.2
$6.51 ¥45.03
27.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.64
$1.11 ¥7.67
-0.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.2K
$15.6K ¥107.9K
25.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.8K
$14.2K ¥98.3K
26.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥368
$38.58 ¥267
37.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.8
$4.23 ¥29.28
104.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.7
$9.59 ¥66.4
41.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$56.6 ¥391
-17.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$27.98 ¥194
-29.38%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$5.50 ¥38.03
53.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,757
$117 ¥810
980.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.6K
$21.1K ¥146.3K
47.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$27.80 ¥192
109.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$27.53 ¥191
35.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$86.1 ¥596
-9.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥665
$80.7 ¥558
19.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,573
$241 ¥1,666
294.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,939
$251 ¥1,740
126.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$415 ¥2,870
509.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,352
$303 ¥2,095
298.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.2K
$2,922 ¥20.2K
375.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.2K
$1,962 ¥13.6K
269.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Quanzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$756 ¥5,229
123.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.56
0.56%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Quanzhou: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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