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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 26.4% more expensive than Taiyuan without rent, and 92.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 49% more expensive than Taiyuan without rent, and 98.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$2.07 ¥14.12

140.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$20.80 ¥142

73.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$4.12 ¥28.17

31.55%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$2.45 ¥16.74

45.31%

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

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.55 ¥3.77

-3.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.32 ¥2.19

3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$1.26 ¥8.62

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$2.05 ¥13.97

34.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$1.37 ¥9.33

55.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$2.80 ¥19.15

-34.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$0.76 ¥5.17

38.16%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$0.93 ¥6.33

80.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$14.10 ¥96.3

10.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$2.84 ¥19.42

14.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$10.72 ¥73.2

1.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$2.03 ¥13.87

16.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$1.33 ¥9.06

27.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

$0.81 ¥5.55

122.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$1.05 ¥7.15

40.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.52 ¥3.57

63.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.43 ¥2.95

172.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.44 ¥2.98

40.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.40 ¥2.75

52.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$2.04 ¥13.93

37.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$7.24 ¥49.47

64.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$0.71 ¥4.86

11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.42 ¥9.68

10.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.27 ¥1.84

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$12.76 ¥87.1

173.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.12 ¥7.66

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.21 ¥1.43

80.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$3.45 ¥23.55

138.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.16 ¥7.91

-0.86%

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

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$23.6K ¥161.3K

-15.82%

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

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$20.0K ¥136.3K

-10.68%

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

$52.2 ¥357

$67.5 ¥461

-22.63%

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

$8.70 ¥59.4

$9.82 ¥67.1

-11.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$11.83 ¥80.8

14.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$41.63 ¥284

11.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$8.19 ¥55.9

149.69%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$5.63 ¥38.43

46.71%

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

$1,266 ¥8,649

$410 ¥2,804

208.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$4,212 ¥28.8K

658.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$24.31 ¥166

145.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$49.09 ¥335

-22.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$70.1 ¥478

10.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$65.9 ¥450

46.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$212 ¥1,451

346.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$103 ¥704

455.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$503 ¥3,436

391.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$247 ¥1,689

387.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$2,595 ¥17.7K

442.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$1,198 ¥8,181

502.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$920 ¥6,282

82.83%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Taiyuan: April 13, 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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