Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Sanya Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Sanya

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 22% more expensive than Sanya without rent, and 63.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 23.6% more expensive than Sanya without rent, and 65.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.4 ¥17.2
97.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$20.72 ¥149
74.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$5.65 ¥40.56
-0.88%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.49 ¥17.86
42.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.44 ¥3.14
22.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.29 ¥2.08
24.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.91 ¥13.71
-25.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.95 ¥14.01
41.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.79 ¥12.81
21.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.36 ¥9.76
33.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$1.45 ¥10.37
-24.14%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.62 ¥11.62
4.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$17 ¥122
-7.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.94 ¥28.29
-19.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.4 ¥74.6
4.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.21 ¥15.82
2.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.44 ¥10.36
15.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.93 ¥13.83
-7.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.67 ¥11.96
-8.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.74 ¥5.34
14.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.79 ¥5.7
48.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.45 ¥3.21
51.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.62 ¥4.45
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.18 ¥22.78
-9.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$6.95 ¥49.85
60.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.07 ¥7.66
-25.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1 ¥7.21
56.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.09
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$15.73 ¥113
123.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.52 ¥10.9
50.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.57 ¥4.07
-35.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.59 ¥47.28
23.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.18 ¥8.47
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.3K ¥138.4K
1.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.8K ¥120.7K
8.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$84 ¥602
-38.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$9.97 ¥71.5
-12.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.48 ¥82.3
17.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$41.5 ¥298
11.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$14.19 ¥102
44.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.22 ¥44.62
37.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$337 ¥2,419
287.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$16.7K ¥119.9K
87.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$44.23 ¥317
32.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$30.99 ¥222
19.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$48.94 ¥351
58.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$73.1 ¥524
34.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$282 ¥2,024
237.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$186 ¥1,331
209.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$585 ¥4,199
330.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$363 ¥2,602
231.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$3,013 ¥21.6K
377.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,297 ¥16.5K
209.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Sanya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$664 ¥4,766
130.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
5.05
-29.11%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Sanya: October 29, 2025

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