Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Tonghua Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Tonghua

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 16.7% more expensive than Tonghua without rent, and 68.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 28.3% more expensive than Tonghua without rent, and 80.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.14
$2.78 ¥19.21
72.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$20.84 ¥144
72.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.34
$4.77 ¥32.96
13.21%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.72
$3.09 ¥21.33
15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.04
$0.47 ¥3.25
25.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.32
$0.27 ¥1.85
25.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.53
$0.88 ¥6.06
56.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.19
$2.12 ¥14.63
31.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.70
$1.62 ¥11.18
31.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.38
$1.62 ¥11.17
10.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.30
$0.89 ¥6.15
19.10%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.30
$1.58 ¥10.92
3.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$12.98 ¥89.7
19.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.40
$3.12 ¥21.56
-0.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.0
$10.31 ¥71.2
6.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.61
$1.72 ¥11.90
31.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.97
$1.25 ¥8.67
38.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.48
$1.35 ¥9.36
34.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.04
$1.09 ¥7.54
33.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.43
$0.67 ¥4.65
17.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.80
$0.95 ¥6.57
18.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.70
$0.55 ¥3.82
23.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.56 ¥3.84
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.77
$3.09 ¥21.34
-11.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.4
$10.92 ¥75.5
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$0.78 ¥5.42
6.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.13
$1.61 ¥11.12
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.27 ¥1.85
59.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥236
$16.57 ¥115
106.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥14.99
$1.37 ¥9.44
58.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.60
$0.32 ¥2.24
18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.1
$6.48 ¥44.81
27.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.63
$1.17 ¥8.11
-5.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.0K
$19.5K ¥134.8K
0.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.7K
$16.5K ¥114.2K
8.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥367
$45.16 ¥312
17.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.7
$9.98 ¥69.0
-13.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.6
$11.58 ¥80.0
16.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$41.69 ¥288
11.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$13.76 ¥95.1
43.60%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$6.08 ¥42.04
38.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,744
$343 ¥2,368
269.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.3K
$17.3K ¥119.3K
80.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$43.86 ¥303
32.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$30.30 ¥209
23.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$70.6 ¥488
10.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥664
$74.0 ¥511
29.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,563
$277 ¥1,911
243.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,933
$185 ¥1,278
207.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$596 ¥4,118
324.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,340
$353 ¥2,440
241.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.1K
$3,234 ¥22.4K
329.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.1K
$1,963 ¥13.6K
269.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$488 ¥3,372
245.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.87
-7.49%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Tonghua: March 2, 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

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