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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Shanghai vs $983 in Quito, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,010 per month in Shanghai vs $1,587 in Quito, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,773 per month in Shanghai vs $2,192 in Quito, rent included.

Shanghai costs about 27% more than Quito, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shanghai and Quito are more affordable than the global median – Shanghai 9% lower, Quito 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 ¥29.29

$4.98 $4.98

-12.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.84 ¥200

$51.1 $51.1

-41.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ¥34.04

$7.35 $7.35

-31.02%

Cappuccino

$3.38 ¥22.71

$3.28 $3.28

3.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥3.96

$1.42 $1.42

-58.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.44

$1.15 $1.15

-68.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 ¥7.77

$3.55 $3.55

-67.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ¥15.96

$5.07 $5.07

-53.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ¥13.89

$1.15 $1.15

80.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 ¥13.22

$1.59 $1.59

23.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ¥6.49

$1.56 $1.56

-37.82%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.25

$2.15 $2.15

-21.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.91 ¥113

$6.36 $6.36

165.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ¥22.72

$5.64 $5.64

-39.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 ¥88.2

$7.64 $7.64

72.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ¥15.59

$2.22 $2.22

4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.73

$1.22 $1.22

43.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 ¥13.42

$1.33 $1.33

50.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 ¥11.76

$1.13 $1.13

54.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ¥5.48

$1.26 $1.26

-34.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ¥6.74

$1.02 $1.02

-1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ¥4.35

$0.92 $0.92

-29.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ¥4.35

$1.05 $1.05

-38.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ¥29.59

$5.85 $5.85

-24.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.17 ¥75.0

$9.91 $9.91

12.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.33

$1.52 $1.52

-38.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ¥10.48

$3.04 $3.04

-48.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 ¥3.89

$0.34 $0.34

70.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.43 ¥197

$21.21 $21.21

38.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.02

$1.51 $1.51

48.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ¥2.88

$1.48 $1.48

-70.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.77 ¥58.8

$10.15 $10.15

-13.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥8.41

$0.85 $0.85

47.06%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.7K ¥132.1K

$20.9K $20.9K

-5.69%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.2K ¥122.4K

$28.0K $28.0K

-34.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$61.6 ¥413

$28.70 $28.70

114.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.45 ¥56.7

$18.14 $18.14

-53.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.41 ¥69.9

$28.97 $28.97

-64.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 ¥467

$45.73 $45.73

52.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.38 ¥110

$17.64 $17.64

-7.14%

Cinema Ticket

$8.84 ¥59.3

$6.70 $6.70

31.94%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,383 ¥9,279

$734 $734

88.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K ¥181.1K

$8,986 $8,986

200.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 ¥348

$65.7 $65.7

-21.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.86 ¥254

$49.77 $49.77

-23.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 ¥503

$114 $114

-34.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ¥707

$107 $107

-1.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ¥6,609

$477 $477

106.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,838

$310 $310

84.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 ¥16.6K

$958 $958

157.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 ¥8,034

$551 $551

117.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K ¥91.6K

$1,786 $1,786

664.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,149 ¥41.3K

$715 $715

760.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,734 ¥11.6K

$599 $599

189.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.35

10.12

-66.90%

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

Last update for Shanghai: August 30, 2026

Last update for Quito: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Shanghai versus $477 in Quito. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 190% higher in Shanghai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Shanghai versus $51.0 in Quito. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Shanghai vs $197 in Quito – so Quito wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shanghai is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,871 per month in Shanghai and $1,474 in Quito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quito, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Quito. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,383 per month in Shanghai and $734 in Quito. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Shanghai at $1,247. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shanghai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quito – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Quito. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shanghai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.