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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 84.9% more expensive than Urumqi without rent, and 128.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 49.7% more expensive than Urumqi without rent, and 139.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 ¥33.95

$3.37 ¥22.99

47.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.17 ¥247

$19.75 ¥135

83.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ¥37.04

$5.35 ¥36.53

1.31%

Cappuccino

$3.56 ¥24.31

$2.98 ¥20.37

19.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.64

$0.42 ¥2.89

26.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ¥2.28

$0.22 ¥1.51

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.35 ¥9.23

$1.08 ¥7.36

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ¥18.87

$2.71 ¥18.54

1.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.54

$1.06 ¥7.22

100.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ¥12.58

$0.81 ¥5.53

127.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.19

$0.33 ¥2.28

218.18%

Eggs

$1.68 ¥11.45

$1.51 ¥10.32

11.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 ¥106

$5.69 ¥38.85

173.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 ¥22.13

$2.11 ¥14.43

53.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.83 ¥74.0

$9.98 ¥68.2

8.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 ¥16.22

$1.75 ¥11.96

35.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ¥11.57

$1.08 ¥7.39

56.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.27

$1.37 ¥9.38

31.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.09

$0.58 ¥3.94

155.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 ¥5.83

$0.43 ¥2.96

97.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ¥7.99

$0.88 ¥5.99

32.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.25

$0.72 ¥4.91

-13.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.55 ¥3.75

10.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ¥19.17

$2.28 ¥15.54

23.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.89 ¥81.2

$10.11 ¥69.0

17.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ¥5.38

$1.01 ¥6.93

-21.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 ¥10.72

$1.69 ¥11.55

-7.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ¥2.98

$0.18 ¥1.25

144.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.93 ¥239

$13.68 ¥93.4

155.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ¥15.33

$1.37 ¥9.37

63.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.59

$0.35 ¥2.40

8.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ¥56.2

$7.55 ¥51.6

9.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ¥7.87

$1.08 ¥7.37

6.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.9K ¥135.8K

$22.6K ¥154.3K

-11.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.8K ¥121.8K

$19.8K ¥134.9K

-9.74%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$52.2 ¥357

$41.01 ¥280

27.29%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.70 ¥59.4

$5.36 ¥36.58

62.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.58 ¥92.7

$13.84 ¥94.5

-1.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.31 ¥316

$13.71 ¥93.7

237.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.45 ¥140

$8.46 ¥57.8

141.73%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ¥56.5

$5.00 ¥34.15

65.20%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,266 ¥8,649

$169 ¥1,154

649.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K ¥218.2K

$7,589 ¥51.8K

320.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 ¥408

$28.05 ¥192

113.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.23 ¥261

$14.20 ¥97.0

169.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 ¥527

$88.9 ¥607

-13.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ¥657

$28.22 ¥193

240.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 ¥6,478

$244 ¥1,670

287.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ¥3,908

$111 ¥760

414.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 ¥16.9K

$399 ¥2,725

519.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,206 ¥8,239

$211 ¥1,440

472.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.1K ¥96.2K

$1,885 ¥12.9K

647.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,213 ¥49.3K

$1,200 ¥8,194

501.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,682 ¥11.5K

$1,124 ¥7,674

49.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

19.33%

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

Last update for Shanghai: April 12, 2026

Last update for Urumqi: April 13, 2026

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

Shanghai vs other spots: cost of living compared

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