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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 33.7% more expensive than Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu without rent, and 86.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 26.8% more expensive than Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu without rent, and 83.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.00 ¥34.58
$2.75 ¥18.99
81.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.86 ¥248
$22.43 ¥155
59.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.68 ¥39.26
$4.93 ¥34.05
15.21%
Cappuccino
$3.47 ¥23.97
$2.84 ¥19.65
22.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.73
$0.45 ¥3.12
20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$0.26 ¥1.80
30.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥9.85
$0.87 ¥6.02
64.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ¥19.59
$1.43 ¥9.86
98.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 ¥14.63
$2.30 ¥15.90
-7.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 ¥12.86
$1.09 ¥7.52
70.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 ¥7.24
$0.81 ¥5.60
29.63%
Eggs
$1.62 ¥11.21
$1.49 ¥10.32
8.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.47 ¥107
$9.05 ¥62.6
70.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.09 ¥21.35
$2.76 ¥19.09
11.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ¥75.3
$5.43 ¥37.52
100.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 ¥16.34
$2.24 ¥15.49
5.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 ¥12.19
$1.39 ¥9.57
26.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.49
$1.66 ¥11.46
9.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.03
$1.20 ¥8.28
20.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥5.84
$0.86 ¥5.94
-1.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ¥7.66
$0.82 ¥5.70
35.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 ¥4.32
$0.83 ¥5.72
-24.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.85
$0.57 ¥3.96
-1.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥19.81
$3.31 ¥22.87
-13.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.94 ¥68.7
$14.41 ¥99.6
-31.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥5.80
$0.86 ¥5.96
-2.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ¥10.73
$1.42 ¥9.79
9.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ¥2.76
$0.27 ¥1.86
48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.62 ¥239
$16.44 ¥114
110.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 ¥15.62
$1.52 ¥10.48
48.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 ¥2.79
$0.38 ¥2.63
5.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.56 ¥59.1
$8.33 ¥57.6
2.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥7.67
$1.14 ¥7.87
-2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.1K
$16.4K ¥113.2K
19.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K ¥127.0K
$14.4K ¥99.4K
27.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.2 ¥367
$17.85 ¥123
197.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73 ¥60.3
$10.75 ¥74.3
-18.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.91 ¥96.1
$11.03 ¥76.2
26.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.58 ¥315
$55.2 ¥381
-17.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.99 ¥138
$13.96 ¥96.4
43.19%
Cinema Ticket
$8.44 ¥58.3
$5.64 ¥38.97
49.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,303 ¥9,005
$274 ¥1,892
375.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.4K
$16.9K ¥116.6K
84.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ¥409
$40.98 ¥283
44.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.77 ¥261
$33.44 ¥231
12.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ¥538
$55.3 ¥382
40.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.7 ¥682
$55.5 ¥384
77.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 ¥6,489
$284 ¥1,962
230.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$565 ¥3,907
$191 ¥1,322
195.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,463 ¥17.0K
$588 ¥4,066
318.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 ¥8,153
$359 ¥2,479
228.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.0K ¥96.9K
$2,936 ¥20.3K
377.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,168 ¥49.5K
$1,963 ¥13.6K
265.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,634 ¥11.3K
-
-
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: March 9, 2026

Last update for Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu: March 10, 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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