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Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Tianjin Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Tianjin

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Shanghai is 22.6% more expensive than Tianjin without rent, and 47.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Shanghai is 30.8% more expensive than Tianjin without rent, and 59.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.77 ยฅ33.35
$4.17 ยฅ29.13
14.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.92 ยฅ251
$27.52 ยฅ192
30.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 ยฅ38.07
$5.72 ยฅ39.95
-4.72%
Cappuccino
$3.42 ยฅ23.93
$3.18 ยฅ22.19
7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ยฅ4.08
$0.46 ยฅ3.25
26.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ยฅ2.36
$0.27 ยฅ1.87
25.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 ยฅ9.92
$0.88 ยฅ6.15
61.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ยฅ19.59
$1.89 ยฅ13.23
48.15%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ยฅ14.61
$1.87 ยฅ13.09
11.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 ยฅ12.94
$1.81 ยฅ12.63
2.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 ยฅ7.67
$1.12 ยฅ7.83
-1.79%
Eggs
$1.60 ยฅ11.21
$1.19 ยฅ8.30
34.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.28 ยฅ107
$15.59 ยฅ109
-1.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 ยฅ21.56
$3.04 ยฅ21.24
1.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ยฅ75.9
$9.36 ยฅ65.5
15.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 ยฅ16.32
$1.25 ยฅ8.74
86.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ยฅ12.37
$1.34 ยฅ9.36
32.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ยฅ12.43
$1.32 ยฅ9.26
34.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 ยฅ10.29
$1.08 ยฅ7.55
36.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ยฅ5.65
$0.83 ยฅ5.82
-2.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 ยฅ8.11
$0.95 ยฅ6.65
22.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 ยฅ4.38
$0.69 ยฅ4.82
-8.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ยฅ4.17
$0.79 ยฅ5.55
-24.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77 ยฅ19.38
$3.79 ยฅ26.50
-26.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.49 ยฅ80.3
$12.75 ยฅ89.2
-9.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ยฅ5.87
$1.21 ยฅ8.46
-30.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ยฅ11.29
$2.27 ยฅ15.85
-29.07%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ยฅ2.79
$0.27 ยฅ1.87
48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.13 ยฅ239
$10.94 ยฅ76.4
211.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ยฅ16.00
$1.44 ยฅ10.10
59.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ยฅ2.64
$0.32 ยฅ2.26
18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 ยฅ58.2
$6.15 ยฅ43.02
35.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ยฅ8.01
$1.13 ยฅ7.93
1.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ยฅ137.4K
$16.8K ยฅ117.7K
16.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3K ยฅ127.7K
$19.3K ยฅ134.8K
-5.30%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.1 ยฅ364
$85.1 ยฅ595
-38.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.79 ยฅ61.4
$9.94 ยฅ69.5
-11.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.87 ยฅ96.9
$7.02 ยฅ49.06
97.58%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ยฅ325
$14.18 ยฅ99.1
227.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.78 ยฅ138
$5.53 ยฅ38.67
257.69%
Cinema Ticket
$8.28 ยฅ57.9
$6.39 ยฅ44.65
29.58%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,297 ยฅ9,069
$560 ยฅ3,915
131.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.9K ยฅ216.0K
$18.8K ยฅ131.6K
64.16%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 ยฅ418
$39.61 ยฅ277
50.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.03 ยฅ266
$28.69 ยฅ201
32.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 ยฅ541
$77.0 ยฅ538
0.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3 ยฅ694
$70.7 ยฅ494
40.50%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 ยฅ6,600
$353 ยฅ2,470
167.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 ยฅ3,986
$238 ยฅ1,661
140.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,460 ยฅ17.2K
$1,026 ยฅ7,171
139.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,204 ยฅ8,413
$488 ยฅ3,409
146.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.2K ยฅ99.6K
$5,375 ยฅ37.6K
165.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,080 ยฅ49.5K
$2,133 ยฅ14.9K
231.86%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 ยฅ11.4K
$1,131 ยฅ7,904
44.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.62
-22.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shanghai: January 10, 2026

Last update for Tianjin: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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