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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 8.7% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 17.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 8.9% more expensive than Shenzhen without rent, and 21.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥34.00

$3.12 ¥21.37

59.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$27.87 ¥191

29.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.09

$5.15 ¥35.22

5.24%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.35

$3.17 ¥21.70

12.30%

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

$0.53 ¥3.65

$0.52 ¥3.59

1.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.30 ¥2.06

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.24

$1.27 ¥8.72

6.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.90

$2.82 ¥19.29

-2.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.56

$1.83 ¥12.49

16.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.60

$1.94 ¥13.28

-5.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.20

$1.18 ¥8.04

-11.02%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.46

$1.87 ¥12.78

-10.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥107

$12.81 ¥87.6

21.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.16

$3.86 ¥26.39

-16.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.1

$13.49 ¥92.3

-19.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.24

$1.83 ¥12.51

29.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.59

$1.42 ¥9.70

19.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.29

$1.73 ¥11.84

4.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.10

$1.39 ¥9.51

6.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.84

$1.06 ¥7.26

-19.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥8.00

$1.42 ¥9.71

-17.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.69 ¥4.72

-10.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.16

$0.60 ¥4.13

1.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.20

$3.38 ¥23.10

-16.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.3

$14.51 ¥99.3

-18.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.39

$0.93 ¥6.33

-15.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.74

$1.86 ¥12.69

-15.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.44 ¥3.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$22.43 ¥153

55.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.35

$1.64 ¥11.21

36.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.35 ¥2.38

8.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.3

$6.85 ¥46.86

20.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.88

$1.13 ¥7.75

1.77%

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

$19.9K ¥136.0K

$22.7K ¥155.6K

-12.57%

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

$17.8K ¥122.0K

$20.7K ¥141.4K

-13.73%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$67.5 ¥461

-22.61%

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

$8.70 ¥59.5

$8.23 ¥56.3

5.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.9

$12.77 ¥87.4

6.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥317

$49.87 ¥341

-7.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$17.30 ¥118

18.21%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$7.13 ¥48.77

15.85%

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

$1,266 ¥8,662

$454 ¥3,104

179.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.5K

$20.3K ¥138.8K

57.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥409

$48.09 ¥329

24.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$30.71 ¥210

24.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥528

$76.9 ¥526

0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥658

$78.7 ¥538

22.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,488

$728 ¥4,980

30.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,914

$402 ¥2,751

42.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$1,674 ¥11.5K

47.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,251

$927 ¥6,338

30.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.4K

$13.3K ¥90.8K

6.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$6,100 ¥41.7K

18.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$1,640 ¥11.2K

2.52%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Shenzhen: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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