Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Wuxi Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Wuxi

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 16.1% more expensive than Wuxi without rent, and 66% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 18.2% more expensive than Wuxi without rent, and 61.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$3.41 ¥24.44
38.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$28.34 ¥203
27.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.92 ¥35.26
13.82%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.23 ¥23.17
10.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.46 ¥3.31
17.39%
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 ¥5.91
74.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$2.48 ¥17.79
11.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.85 ¥13.3
17.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.8 ¥12.89
0.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.97 ¥6.99
13.40%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$2.12 ¥15.19
-20.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$14.05 ¥101
12.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$3.29 ¥23.63
-3.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$11.22 ¥80.5
-3.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.34 ¥16.76
-3.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.15 ¥8.27
45.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.57 ¥11.28
13.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$0.99 ¥7.11
53.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.64 ¥4.57
32.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.73 ¥5.24
60.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.6 ¥4.31
13.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.48 ¥3.43
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$4.93 ¥35.37
-41.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$10.71 ¥76.8
4.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.66 ¥4.74
21.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.88 ¥13.52
-17.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.27 ¥1.93
48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$13.89 ¥99.7
153.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.41 ¥10.09
62.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.43 ¥3.09
-13.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$8.42 ¥60.4
-3.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.15 ¥8.21
-5.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$17.8K ¥127.7K
9.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$20.1K ¥143.9K
-9.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$34.6 ¥248
48.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$16.9 ¥121
-48.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$25.54 ¥183
-47.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$51.8 ¥371
-10.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$6.73 ¥48.3
203.71%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$7.8 ¥56
10.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$424 ¥3,043
208.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$17.3K ¥123.9K
81.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$40.82 ¥293
44.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$27.57 ¥198
34.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$63.6 ¥456
22.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$37.87 ¥272
160.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$318 ¥2,281
199.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$209 ¥1,501
174.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$597 ¥4,283
321.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$360 ¥2,585
233.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$4,128 ¥29.6K
248.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,435 ¥17.5K
191.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$1,081 ¥7,754
41.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.02
-10.95%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Wuxi: October 28, 2025

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