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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 10.9% more expensive than Shantou without rent, and 78.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 12.7% more expensive than Shantou without rent, and 79.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.03 ¥14.57
133.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$16.4 ¥118
120.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.89 ¥35.11
14.52%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.12 ¥22.41
14.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.48 ¥3.41
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.3 ¥2.18
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.86 ¥6.18
66.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.57 ¥18.47
7.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.7 ¥12.18
28.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.41 ¥10.12
28.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.68 ¥4.89
61.76%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.86 ¥13.35
-9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$12.55 ¥90
25.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.78 ¥27.1
-16.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$11.95 ¥85.7
-8.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.85 ¥13.31
22.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.46 ¥10.49
14.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.68 ¥12.07
5.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.27 ¥9.11
19.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.76 ¥5.46
11.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.93 ¥6.67
25.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.67 ¥4.81
1.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.4 ¥2.87
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.41 ¥24.44
-15.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$11.46 ¥82.2
-2.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.83 ¥5.94
-3.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.9 ¥13.65
-17.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.36 ¥2.59
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$22.16 ¥159
58.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.51 ¥10.83
51.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.35 ¥2.51
5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.61 ¥47.39
23.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.1 ¥7.89
-0.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$20.8K ¥149.3K
-6.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$19.4K ¥139.4K
-6.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$54.4 ¥390
-5.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$8.14 ¥58.4
6.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$12.9 ¥92.6
4.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$41.68 ¥299
11.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$14.17 ¥102
44.25%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.86 ¥49.2
25.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$460 ¥3,303
183.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$20.8K ¥148.8K
51.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$48.35 ¥347
21.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$30.35 ¥218
21.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$76 ¥545
2.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$77.7 ¥557
26.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$283 ¥2,029
236.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$137 ¥982
319.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$548 ¥3,932
359.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$284 ¥2,038
322.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,102 ¥15.1K
584.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$3,210 ¥23K
121.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Shantou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$994 ¥7,127
54.36%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Shantou: October 27, 2025

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