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.

Shanghai
🇨🇳 China
$1,250
/mo nomad
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
$1,621
/mo nomad
🙂 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.
Currency
🍽 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
-
-
🎉 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
-
-
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
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,191 ¥41.4K
-
-
💵 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.
Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
$589
Timor-Leste
$739 25.6% $151
Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
$237
Timor-Leste
$275 16.3% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
$122
Timor-Leste
$103 15.6% $19
Eating Out
Shanghai
$107
Timor-Leste
$151 41% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
$82
Timor-Leste
$62 24.6% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
$76
Timor-Leste
$177 * 133% $101
Getting Around
Shanghai
$37
Timor-Leste
$67 80.7% $30

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Shanghai
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
🕒 Local time
14:10 2:10 PM
15:10 3:10 PM
1 h ahead of Shanghai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,870,895
1,243,235
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 6.68 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.5 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
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

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