Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Timor-Leste
For one person, living is cheaper in Shanghai: $1,250 a month against $1,621 in Timor-Leste, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Shanghai Living Index61Cost of Living Index in ShanghaiLearn more -
Timor-Leste Living Index77Cost of Living Index in Timor-LesteLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 12.3% cheaper than Timor-Leste without rent, and 22.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shanghai is 14.5% cheaper than Timor-Leste without rent, and 15.2% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ¥30.40
$4.92 $4.92
-7.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.52 ¥197
$42.34 $42.34
-30.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.10 ¥34.08
$7.92 $7.92
-35.61%
Cappuccino
$3.42 ¥22.88
$4.07 $4.07
-15.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.11
$1.65 $1.65
-63.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.40
$2.84 $2.84
-87.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ¥8.07
$2.45 $2.45
-50.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ¥15.31
$4.56 $4.56
-49.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 ¥12.46
$2.28 $2.28
-18.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.01 ¥13.45
$2.55 $2.55
-21.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ¥6.83
$0.89 $0.89
14.61%
Eggs
$1.72 ¥11.46
$2.74 $2.74
-37.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.19 ¥115
$2.01 $2.01
755.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 ¥22.39
$9.46 $9.46
-64.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 ¥85.5
$16.03 $16.03
-20.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ¥14.51
$3.26 $3.26
-33.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 ¥11.65
$1.80 $1.80
-3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 ¥12.96
$2.44 $2.44
-20.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 ¥11.23
$2.28 $2.28
-26.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ¥5.17
$1.20 $1.20
-35.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.21
$1.14 $1.14
-18.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ¥4.16
$0.91 $0.91
-31.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.88
$1.01 $1.01
-42.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.83 ¥25.60
$2.96 $2.96
29.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.94 ¥73.1
$12.08 $12.08
-9.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥5.59
$2.28 $2.28
-63.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ¥10.71
$2.77 $2.77
-42.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 ¥3.92
$0.24 $0.24
145.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.27 ¥202
$43.66 $43.66
-30.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 ¥13.77
$3.55 $3.55
-41.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 ¥3.13
$3.74 $3.74
-87.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.80 ¥58.8
$19.90 $19.90
-55.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ¥8.51
$1.38 $1.38
-7.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K ¥131.0K
$20.1K $20.1K
-2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K ¥124.2K
$18.2K $18.2K
1.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.2 ¥382
$150 $150
-61.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.06 ¥53.8
$27.21 $27.21
-70.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.52 ¥70.3
-
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.6 ¥432
$50.4 $50.4
28.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.63 ¥118
-
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Cinema Ticket
$8.84 ¥59.1
$5.84 $5.84
51.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,437 ¥9,605
$1,508 $1,508
-4.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.1K ¥187.5K
$15.9K $15.9K
75.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 ¥365
$59.7 $59.7
-8.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.43 ¥243
$29.63 $29.63
22.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 ¥504
$80.1 $80.1
-5.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 ¥695
$58.8 $58.8
76.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,039 ¥6,945
$827 $827
25.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$589 ¥3,933
$739 $739
-20.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,487 ¥16.6K
$2,771 $2,771
-10.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 ¥8,268
$1,488 $1,488
-16.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.6K ¥90.8K
-
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,191 ¥41.4K
-
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Timor-Leste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,715 ¥11.5K
$4,913 $4,913
-65.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.36
5.37
-37.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shanghai: October 4, 2026
Last update for Timor-Leste: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Shanghai $589 47.1%
Timor-Leste $739 47% 25.6% $151
Groceries & Markets
Shanghai $237 19%
Timor-Leste $275 17.5% 16.3% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai $122 9.7%
Timor-Leste $103 6.5% 15.6% $19
Eating Out
Shanghai $107 8.6%
Timor-Leste $151 9.6% 41% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai $82 6.6%
Timor-Leste $62 3.9% 24.6% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai $76 6.1%
Timor-Leste $177 * 11.2% 133% $101
Getting Around
Shanghai $37 3%
Timor-Leste $67 4.3% 80.7% $30
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Shanghai $1.2K 44.8%
Timor-Leste $1.5K 44.8% 20.2% $250
Groceries & Markets
Shanghai $551 19.9%
Timor-Leste $637 19.2% 15.7% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai $270 9.8%
Timor-Leste $228 6.9% 15.6% $42
Eating Out
Shanghai $362 13.1%
Timor-Leste $502 15.1% 38.8% $140
Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai $182 6.6%
Timor-Leste $124 * 3.7% 31.9% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai $84 3%
Timor-Leste $204 * 6.2% 143% $120
Getting Around
Shanghai $75 2.7%
Timor-Leste $134 4.1% 78.5% $59
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇨🇳 Shanghai
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
Weather
Population
24,870,895
1,243,235
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Shanghai Timor-Leste 4,450 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
- Shanghai
- Timor-Leste
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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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