Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 51.9% more expensive than Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu without rent, and 84.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 47.5% more expensive than Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu without rent, and 83% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.76 ¥19.76
71.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$22.56 ¥162
60.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.92 ¥35.27
13.82%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.84 ¥20.34
25.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.45 ¥3.23
20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.26 ¥1.87
38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.81 ¥5.78
76.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.42 ¥10.17
94.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$2.31 ¥16.58
-5.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.13 ¥8.11
60.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.78 ¥5.56
41.03%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.47 ¥10.56
14.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$9.16 ¥65.7
72.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.83 ¥20.28
12.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$5.69 ¥40.79
91.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.14 ¥15.32
5.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.42 ¥10.16
17.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.59 ¥11.44
11.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.15 ¥8.22
32.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.88 ¥6.28
-3.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.81 ¥5.81
44.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.86 ¥6.15
-20.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.61 ¥4.4
-1.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.42 ¥24.5
-16.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$11.28 ¥80.9
-1.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.88 ¥6.28
-9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.38 ¥9.88
13.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.11
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$17 ¥122
106.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.51 ¥10.85
51.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.36 ¥2.56
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$8.45 ¥60.6
-3.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.09 ¥7.83
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$17K ¥122K
14.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$14.4K ¥103K
26.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$17.24 ¥124
199.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$10.78 ¥77.3
-19.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.33 ¥81.3
19.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$56.5 ¥405
-17.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$13.95 ¥100
46.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$5.46 ¥39.15
57.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$275 ¥1,973
375.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$16.8K ¥120.2K
87.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$41.88 ¥300
40.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$33.11 ¥237
11.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$56.7 ¥406
37.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$54.8 ¥393
79.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$277 ¥1,984
244.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$185 ¥1,324
210.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$584 ¥4,189
331.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$358 ¥2,571
235.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,839 ¥20.4K
406.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,516 ¥18K
182.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.87
-7.49%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.