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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 18.1% more expensive than Tianjin without rent, and 57.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 36.6% more expensive than Tianjin without rent, and 55% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$4.25 ¥30.5
11.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$27.88 ¥200
29.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$5.54 ¥39.77
1.08%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.29 ¥23.63
8.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.43 ¥3.09
25.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.27 ¥1.92
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.86 ¥6.18
66.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.9 ¥13.63
45.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.79 ¥12.81
21.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.87 ¥13.39
-3.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$1.12 ¥8.05
-1.79%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.17 ¥8.36
44.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$15.36 ¥110
2.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.98 ¥21.35
6.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$9.48 ¥68
14.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.28 ¥9.15
76.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.34 ¥9.58
24.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.36 ¥9.78
30.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.1 ¥7.86
38.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.79 ¥5.69
7.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.89 ¥6.38
31.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.73 ¥5.26
-6.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.86 ¥6.14
-30.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.94 ¥28.27
-27.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$8.2 ¥58.8
36.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.16 ¥8.34
-31.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$2.38 ¥17.1
-34.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.08
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$11.04 ¥79.2
218.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.5 ¥10.73
52.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.35 ¥2.52
5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.14 ¥44.07
32.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.18 ¥8.43
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$16.7K ¥120K
16.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$19.3K ¥138.3K
-5.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$86.9 ¥624
-40.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$10.24 ¥73.4
-15.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$7.03 ¥50.5
92.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$14 ¥100
231.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$5.64 ¥40.42
262.41%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.34 ¥45.45
35.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$558 ¥4,001
134.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$18.3K ¥131.3K
71.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$39.95 ¥287
47.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$28.56 ¥205
29.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$76 ¥545
2.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$70.2 ¥503
40.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$361 ¥2,593
163.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$237 ¥1,703
141.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$1,028 ¥7,372
144.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$492 ¥3,529
144.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$5,819 ¥41.7K
147.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,154 ¥15.5K
229.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$948 ¥6,801
61.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.62
-22.51%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Tianjin: October 29, 2025

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