Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Shantou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Shantou

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 34.2% more expensive than Shantou without rent, and 74.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 10.6% more expensive than Shantou without rent, and 86.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.19
$2.05 ¥14.18
134.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$16.55 ¥115
116.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.40
$4.78 ¥33.11
12.97%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.76
$3.12 ¥21.62
14.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.05
$0.44 ¥3.05
34.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$0.28 ¥1.92
21.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.55
$0.80 ¥5.54
72.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.22
$2.66 ¥18.41
4.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.72
$1.69 ¥11.69
26.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.39
$1.41 ¥9.77
26.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.31
$0.73 ¥5.09
45.21%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.31
$1.93 ¥13.35
-15.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$12.67 ¥87.7
22.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.43
$3.90 ¥26.96
-20.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.1
$12.25 ¥84.8
-10.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.63
$1.88 ¥12.98
20.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.98
$1.42 ¥9.80
21.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$1.64 ¥11.34
10.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.05
$1.21 ¥8.40
19.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.81 ¥5.62
-2.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.81
$1.01 ¥6.97
11.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.71
$0.63 ¥4.38
7.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.44 ¥3.03
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.80
$3.40 ¥23.50
-20.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.5
$11.86 ¥82.1
-7.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$0.81 ¥5.62
2.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.15
$1.81 ¥12.50
-11.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.36 ¥2.51
19.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥237
$22.16 ¥153
54.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥15.02
$1.57 ¥10.87
38.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.61
$0.35 ¥2.43
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.2
$6.52 ¥45.10
26.84%
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
$21.3K ¥147.3K
-8.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.8K
$19.1K ¥132.3K
-6.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥368
$54.4 ¥376
-2.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.8
$8.25 ¥57.1
4.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.7
$12.91 ¥89.3
4.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$41.87 ¥290
10.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$14.06 ¥97.3
40.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$7.06 ¥48.82
19.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,757
$455 ¥3,149
178.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.6K
$20.2K ¥139.6K
54.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$49.56 ¥343
17.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$30.30 ¥210
23.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$75.9 ¥525
2.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥665
$78.8 ¥545
22.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,573
$278 ¥1,925
241.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,939
$138 ¥956
312.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$546 ¥3,781
362.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,352
$275 ¥1,906
338.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.2K
$2,138 ¥14.8K
550.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.2K
$4,312 ¥29.8K
68.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$1,032 ¥7,140
63.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.04
-11.39%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Shantou: March 3, 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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