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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 35.5% more expensive than Tonghua without rent, and 70.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 24.6% more expensive than Tonghua without rent, and 70.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.74 ¥19.63
72.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$20.98 ¥150
72.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.89 ¥35.11
14.52%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.03 ¥21.73
17.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.44 ¥3.15
22.73%
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
$0.89 ¥6.39
60.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.06 ¥14.8
33.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.58 ¥11.36
37.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.54 ¥11.03
17.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.91 ¥6.52
20.88%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.57 ¥11.28
7.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$13.03 ¥93.5
21.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.07 ¥21.99
3.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.34 ¥74.2
5.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.74 ¥12.5
29.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.25 ¥8.98
33.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.43 ¥10.24
24.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.13 ¥8.12
34.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.68 ¥4.87
25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.96 ¥6.91
21.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.61 ¥4.36
11.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.55 ¥3.95
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.17 ¥22.72
-9.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$10.48 ¥75.2
6.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.8 ¥5.73
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.6 ¥11.47
-2.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.29 ¥2.09
37.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$16.88 ¥121
108.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.35 ¥9.67
69.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.35 ¥2.53
5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.52 ¥46.77
24.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.12 ¥8.02
-2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.6K ¥140.3K
-0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.9K ¥121.1K
7.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$46.3 ¥332
11.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$10.07 ¥72.2
-13.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.49 ¥82.4
17.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$41.37 ¥297
12.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$14.19 ¥102
44.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.23 ¥44.7
37.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$332 ¥2,382
293.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$16.6K ¥119.1K
89.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$43.29 ¥311
35.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$30.16 ¥216
22.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$70.9 ¥509
9.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$74.9 ¥538
31.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$282 ¥2,020
237.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$187 ¥1,343
206.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$592 ¥4,246
325.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$365 ¥2,620
228.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,981 ¥21.4K
382.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,009 ¥14.4K
253.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Tonghua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$487 ¥3,491
215.15%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Tonghua: October 29, 2025

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