Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Wuhan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Wuhan

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 20.8% more expensive than Wuhan without rent, and 54.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 22.8% more expensive than Wuhan without rent, and 61.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.83 ¥20.29
67.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$21.28 ¥153
69.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$5.58 ¥40.04
0.36%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.1 ¥15.09
69.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.39 ¥2.78
38.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.29 ¥2.1
24.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.82 ¥5.89
74.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.68 ¥19.2
2.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.78 ¥12.79
22.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.38 ¥9.89
31.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.93 ¥6.66
18.28%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.4 ¥10.06
20.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$12.67 ¥90.9
24.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.47 ¥24.88
-8.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$12.33 ¥88.4
-11.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.91 ¥13.71
18.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.11 ¥7.96
50.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.18 ¥8.43
50.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$0.94 ¥6.72
61.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.74 ¥5.28
14.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.67 ¥4.78
74.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.5 ¥3.58
36.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.51 ¥3.66
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$3.1 ¥22.21
-7.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$10.51 ¥75.4
6.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.72 ¥5.14
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.52 ¥10.93
2.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.58 ¥4.16
-31.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$30.75 ¥221
14.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.42 ¥10.17
61.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.27 ¥1.95
37.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.26 ¥44.9
30.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.16 ¥8.34
-6.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$18.2K ¥130.2K
7.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$14.3K ¥102.7K
27.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$83.5 ¥599
-38.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$7.52 ¥54
15.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.86 ¥85.1
13.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$38.05 ¥273
22.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$15.36 ¥110
33.07%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$5.73 ¥41.11
49.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$327 ¥2,343
300.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$7,551 ¥54.2K
316.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$53.5 ¥384
9.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$30.39 ¥218
21.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$79 ¥567
-1.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$105 ¥753
-6.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$360 ¥2,584
164.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$217 ¥1,559
163.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$739 ¥5,298
240.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$341 ¥2,445
252.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$3,316 ¥23.8K
333.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,652 ¥11.9K
330.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Wuhan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$1,028 ¥7,372
49.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.17
-14.15%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Wuhan: October 27, 2025

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