Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Taiyuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Taiyuan

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 19.2% more expensive than Taiyuan without rent, and 96.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 43.1% more expensive than Taiyuan without rent, and 88.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.14 ¥15.36
121.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$20.54 ¥147
76.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.23 ¥30.31
32.39%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.46 ¥17.65
44.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.55 ¥3.91
-1.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.33 ¥2.33
9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.24 ¥8.87
15.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.14 ¥15.32
28.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.37 ¥9.83
59.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$2.8 ¥20.12
-35.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.71 ¥5.11
54.93%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$0.94 ¥6.72
79.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$13.66 ¥98
15.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.83 ¥20.29
12.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.71 ¥76.8
1.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.13 ¥15.31
6.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.31 ¥9.42
27.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$0.83 ¥5.92
114.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.08 ¥7.78
40.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.5 ¥3.57
70.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.4 ¥2.89
192.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.4 ¥2.9
70.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.4 ¥2.9
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.11 ¥15.1
36.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$8.94 ¥64.1
24.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.69 ¥4.95
15.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.41 ¥10.1
10.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.1
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$12.37 ¥88.7
184.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.08 ¥7.76
112.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.21 ¥1.5
76.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$3.58 ¥25.71
127.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.11 ¥7.94
-1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$23.4K ¥167.8K
-16.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$20K ¥143.3K
-8.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$69 ¥495
-25.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$9.47 ¥67.9
-8.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.78 ¥84.5
14.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$41.55 ¥298
11.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$8.42 ¥60.4
142.76%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$5.59 ¥40.08
53.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$415 ¥2,976
215.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$4,110 ¥29.5K
664.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$24.03 ¥172
144.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$48.89 ¥351
-24.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$70.7 ¥507
9.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$64.3 ¥461
53.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$212 ¥1,519
349.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$106 ¥764
438.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$520 ¥3,730
384.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$243 ¥1,746
393.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$4,295 ¥30.8K
234.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,113 ¥7,983
538.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Taiyuan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$893 ¥6,404
71.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.83
-6.53%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Taiyuan: October 27, 2025

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