Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Quito Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Quito

🙂 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 0.3% cheaper than Quito without rent, and 24.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 1% more expensive than Quito without rent, and 37.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.97 ¥33.95
$4.46 $4.46
11.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥247
$32.95 $32.95
9.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.42 ¥37.04
$7.55 $7.55
-28.21%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥24.31
$2.85 $2.85
24.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.64
$1.11 $1.11
-52.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ¥2.28
$0.66 $0.66
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.35 ¥9.23
$1.98 $1.98
-31.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥18.87
$3.98 $3.98
-30.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.54
$1.10 $1.10
93.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ¥12.58
$1.56 $1.56
17.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 ¥7.19
$1.80 $1.80
-41.67%
Eggs
$1.68 ¥11.45
$2.25 $2.25
-25.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.58 ¥106
$8.60 $8.60
81.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.24 ¥22.13
$7.81 $7.81
-58.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.83 ¥74.0
$8.34 $8.34
29.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 ¥16.22
$1.99 $1.99
19.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ¥11.57
$1.15 $1.15
46.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.27
$1.07 $1.07
68.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 ¥10.09
$1.32 $1.32
12.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥5.83
$1.42 $1.42
-40.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥7.99
$1.06 $1.06
10.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ¥4.25
$0.86 $0.86
-27.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.15
$1.06 $1.06
-42.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81 ¥19.17
$5.90 $5.90
-52.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.89 ¥81.2
$10.13 $10.13
17.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ¥5.38
$1.58 $1.58
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ¥10.72
$2.91 $2.91
-46.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ¥2.98
$0.34 $0.34
29.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.93 ¥239
$26.48 $26.48
31.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 ¥15.33
$1.53 $1.53
46.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.59
$1.54 $1.54
-75.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.23 ¥56.2
$9.92 $9.92
-17.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ¥7.87
$0.72 $0.72
59.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K ¥135.8K
$20.1K $20.1K
-1.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K ¥121.8K
$25.9K $25.9K
-31.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.2 ¥357
$34.12 $34.12
52.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.70 ¥59.4
$14.56 $14.56
-40.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.58 ¥92.7
$28.77 $28.77
-52.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.31 ¥316
$40.55 $40.55
14.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.45 ¥140
$16.91 $16.91
20.93%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 ¥56.5
$7.01 $7.01
17.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,266 ¥8,649
$278 $278
356.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.9K ¥218.2K
$8,796 $8,796
263.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 ¥408
$56.8 $56.8
5.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.23 ¥261
$44.08 $44.08
-13.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 ¥527
$102 $102
-23.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.2 ¥657
$87.0 $87.0
10.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 ¥6,478
$455 $455
108.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$572 ¥3,908
$313 $313
83.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,473 ¥16.9K
$778 $778
217.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,206 ¥8,239
$505 $505
138.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.1K ¥96.2K
$1,658 $1,658
749.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,213 ¥49.3K
$761 $761
847.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Quito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,682 ¥11.5K
$615 $615
173.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
11.19
-68.01%

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

Last update for Shanghai: April 12, 2026

Last update for Quito: April 12, 2026

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