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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 64.1% more expensive than Urumqi without rent, and 136.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 71.2% more expensive than Urumqi without rent, and 134.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$3.28 ¥23.53
44.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$19.45 ¥140
85.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$5.27 ¥37.82
6.26%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.99 ¥21.42
19.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.43 ¥3.08
25.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.2 ¥1.43
80.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.14 ¥8.18
25.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.63 ¥18.87
4.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.06 ¥7.6
105.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$0.81 ¥5.8
123.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.33 ¥2.4
233.33%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.48 ¥10.62
14.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$5.42 ¥38.91
191.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.1 ¥15.09
50.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$10.23 ¥73.4
6.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.69 ¥12.13
33.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.1 ¥7.87
51.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.42 ¥10.18
25.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$0.58 ¥4.15
162.07%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.4 ¥2.89
112.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.86 ¥6.17
36.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.73 ¥5.26
-6.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.51 ¥3.69
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.21 ¥15.85
29.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$9.53 ¥68.4
17.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.06 ¥7.57
-24.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.77 ¥12.73
-11.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.16 ¥1.13
150.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$14.08 ¥101
149.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.41 ¥10.11
62.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.36 ¥2.55
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$7.6 ¥54.5
7.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.11 ¥7.97
-1.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$22.7K ¥162.7K
-13.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$19.8K ¥141.8K
-7.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$42.3 ¥303
21.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$5.56 ¥39.88
56.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$13.65 ¥97.9
-1.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$14.18 ¥102
227.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$8.3 ¥59.5
146.27%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$4.91 ¥35.23
74.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$169 ¥1,210
675.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$7,736 ¥55.5K
306.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$28.39 ¥204
107.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$13.98 ¥100
164.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$86.4 ¥620
-10.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$28.09 ¥201
250.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$245 ¥1,756
288.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$112 ¥805
411.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$405 ¥2,908
521.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$205 ¥1,473
484.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$1,937 ¥13.9K
642.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,312 ¥9,411
441.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Urumqi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$1,023 ¥7,338
49.93%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Urumqi: October 26, 2025

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