Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Urumqi Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Urumqi

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 79.1% more expensive than Urumqi without rent, and 129.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 81.6% more expensive than Urumqi without rent, and 145.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.19
$3.43 ¥23.76
39.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$19.78 ¥137
81.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.40
$5.37 ¥37.16
0.56%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.76
$2.99 ¥20.71
19.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.05
$0.43 ¥2.95
37.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$0.22 ¥1.52
54.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.55
$1.13 ¥7.84
22.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.22
$2.68 ¥18.52
3.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.72
$1.04 ¥7.21
104.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.39
$0.81 ¥5.61
120.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.31
$0.36 ¥2.52
194.44%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.31
$1.52 ¥10.55
7.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$5.60 ¥38.76
178.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.43
$2.04 ¥14.12
51.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.1
$10.17 ¥70.4
8.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.63
$1.78 ¥12.33
26.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.98
$1.12 ¥7.78
54.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$1.37 ¥9.45
32.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.05
$0.54 ¥3.70
168.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.41 ¥2.82
92.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.81
$0.81 ¥5.60
39.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.71
$0.69 ¥4.76
-1.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.54 ¥3.74
3.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.80
$2.28 ¥15.80
19.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.5
$9.95 ¥68.9
9.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$1.03 ¥7.13
-19.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.15
$1.77 ¥12.25
-9.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.15 ¥1.05
186.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥237
$14.02 ¥97.0
144.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥15.02
$1.35 ¥9.34
60.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.61
$0.35 ¥2.45
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.2
$7.85 ¥54.4
5.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.64
$1.09 ¥7.51
0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.2K
$22.7K ¥157.0K
-13.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.8K
$19.5K ¥134.8K
-8.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥368
$42.49 ¥294
25.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.8
$5.35 ¥37.05
61.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.7
$14.08 ¥97.4
-3.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$13.79 ¥95.4
236.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$8.35 ¥57.8
136.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$4.98 ¥34.47
69.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,757
$165 ¥1,143
665.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.6K
$7,577 ¥52.4K
311.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$28.17 ¥195
106.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$13.74 ¥95.1
171.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$88.6 ¥613
-12.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥665
$27.58 ¥191
248.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,573
$239 ¥1,656
297.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,939
$114 ¥785
401.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$406 ¥2,813
522.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,352
$211 ¥1,460
472.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.2K
$1,948 ¥13.5K
613.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.2K
$1,158 ¥8,011
526.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$1,108 ¥7,668
52.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3
19.33%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Urumqi: 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