Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Shenzhen Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Shenzhen

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 9.3% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 21.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 7% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 ¥33.92

$3.17 ¥22.75

49.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥259

$27.46 ¥197

31.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.6 ¥40.18

$4.92 ¥35.32

13.82%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥25.53

$3.19 ¥22.91

11.60%

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

$0.54 ¥3.9

$0.51 ¥3.69

5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ¥2.59

$0.28 ¥1.98

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ¥10.25

$1.21 ¥8.7

18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥19.81

$2.71 ¥19.42

1.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ¥15.66

$1.79 ¥12.87

21.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ¥13

$2.05 ¥14.69

-11.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.1 ¥7.9

$1.22 ¥8.75

-9.84%

Eggs

$1.69 ¥12.1

$1.87 ¥13.4

-9.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.79 ¥113

$12.74 ¥91.4

23.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ¥22.76

$3.84 ¥27.55

-17.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 ¥78.1

$13.46 ¥96.6

-19.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥16.24

$1.82 ¥13.06

24.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 ¥11.98

$1.47 ¥10.56

13.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 ¥12.78

$1.82 ¥13.03

-2.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ¥10.94

$1.4 ¥10.01

8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥6.09

$1.09 ¥7.85

-22.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥8.37

$1.45 ¥10.43

-19.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.84

$0.74 ¥5.33

-8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.6 ¥4.29

$0.61 ¥4.35

-1.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ¥20.56

$3.4 ¥24.37

-15.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 ¥80

$12.61 ¥90.5

-11.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.8 ¥5.73

$0.9 ¥6.43

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ¥11.22

$1.9 ¥13.66

-17.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.4 ¥2.89

$0.43 ¥3.09

-6.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.15 ¥252

$22.34 ¥160

57.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 ¥16.45

$1.71 ¥12.3

33.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.69

$0.35 ¥2.5

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 ¥58.4

$6.74 ¥48.33

20.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ¥7.81

$1.12 ¥8.04

-2.68%

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

$19.5K ¥140.1K

$23.1K ¥165.8K

-15.47%

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

$18.2K ¥130.5K

$20.2K ¥145.2K

-10.10%

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

$51.6 ¥370

$67.1 ¥482

-23.22%

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

$8.68 ¥62.2

$8.16 ¥58.6

6.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.5 ¥96.8

$12.86 ¥92.2

4.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.42 ¥333

$50.3 ¥361

-7.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.44 ¥147

$17.3 ¥124

18.15%

Cinema Ticket

$8.58 ¥61.5

$7.1 ¥50.9

20.85%

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

$1,307 ¥9,378

$455 ¥3,267

187.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.4K ¥225.4K

$20.6K ¥147.8K

52.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ¥422

$49.43 ¥355

18.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.99 ¥265

$30.29 ¥217

22.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥558

$74.9 ¥537

3.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 ¥706

$77.8 ¥558

26.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 ¥6,827

$728 ¥5,220

30.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$574 ¥4,115

$406 ¥2,915

41.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,518 ¥18.1K

$1,702 ¥12.2K

47.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 ¥8,614

$907 ¥6,505

32.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.4K ¥103.2K

$12.4K ¥88.6K

16.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,106 ¥51K

$5,786 ¥41.5K

22.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,534 ¥11K

$1,702 ¥12.2K

-9.90%

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 Shenzhen: October 28, 2025

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