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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 25.9% more expensive than Tianjin without rent, and 56.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 24.4% more expensive than Tianjin without rent, and 62.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.19
$4.06 ¥28.06
18.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$27.31 ¥189
31.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.40
$5.70 ¥39.42
-5.26%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.76
$3.23 ¥22.33
10.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.05
$0.47 ¥3.22
25.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$0.27 ¥1.85
25.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.55
$0.85 ¥5.89
62.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.22
$1.93 ¥13.38
44.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.72
$1.86 ¥12.89
14.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.39
$1.88 ¥13.01
-4.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.31
$1.13 ¥7.85
-6.19%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.31
$1.21 ¥8.38
34.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$15.21 ¥105
2.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.43
$3.01 ¥20.84
2.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.1
$9.43 ¥65.3
16.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.63
$1.25 ¥8.68
80.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.98
$1.35 ¥9.36
28.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$1.30 ¥9.02
39.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.05
$1.08 ¥7.49
34.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.79 ¥5.44
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.81
$0.95 ¥6.56
18.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.71
$0.72 ¥5.00
-5.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.81 ¥5.58
-30.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.80
$3.76 ¥26.05
-27.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.5
$12.84 ¥88.9
-14.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$1.15 ¥7.99
-27.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.15
$2.30 ¥15.93
-30.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.29 ¥2.03
48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥237
$10.95 ¥75.8
212.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥15.02
$1.48 ¥10.25
46.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.61
$0.32 ¥2.24
18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.2
$6.28 ¥43.49
31.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.64
$1.18 ¥8.18
-6.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.2K
$16.9K ¥117.0K
15.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.8K
$19.7K ¥136.0K
-8.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥368
$85.6 ¥592
-37.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.8
$10.04 ¥69.5
-13.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.7
$6.91 ¥47.83
95.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$14.08 ¥97.5
229.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$5.65 ¥39.09
249.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$6.37 ¥44.09
32.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,757
$560 ¥3,874
126.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.6K
$18.6K ¥128.9K
67.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$39.85 ¥276
46.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$28.73 ¥199
29.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$77.1 ¥534
0.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥665
$69.6 ¥481
38.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,573
$355 ¥2,455
167.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,939
$236 ¥1,636
140.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$1,045 ¥7,232
141.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,352
$488 ¥3,378
147.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.2K
$5,380 ¥37.2K
158.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.2K
$2,203 ¥15.2K
228.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Tianjin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$1,135 ¥7,858
48.61%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Tianjin: March 3, 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

Similar cities