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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 12.4% more expensive than Wuxi without rent, and 65.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 20% more expensive than Wuxi without rent, and 67.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.14
$3.55 ¥24.51
35.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$28.09 ¥194
27.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.34
$4.84 ¥33.41
11.57%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.72
$3.20 ¥22.09
11.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.04
$0.46 ¥3.20
28.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.32
$0.27 ¥1.86
25.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.53
$0.86 ¥5.95
60.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.19
$2.38 ¥16.46
16.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.70
$1.84 ¥12.71
15.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.38
$1.85 ¥12.79
-3.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.30
$0.97 ¥6.73
9.28%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.30
$2.07 ¥14.34
-21.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$14.22 ¥98.3
9.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.40
$3.27 ¥22.59
-5.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.0
$11.13 ¥76.9
-1.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.61
$2.33 ¥16.12
-3.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.97
$1.17 ¥8.05
47.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.48
$1.55 ¥10.70
16.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.04
$0.99 ¥6.83
46.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.43
$0.59 ¥4.10
33.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.80
$0.70 ¥4.84
61.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.70
$0.66 ¥4.54
3.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.48 ¥3.32
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.77
$4.85 ¥33.53
-43.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.4
$10.96 ¥75.7
-0.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$0.66 ¥4.54
25.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.13
$1.89 ¥13.09
-14.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.29 ¥2.03
48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥236
$13.95 ¥96.4
145.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥14.99
$1.37 ¥9.46
58.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.60
$0.40 ¥2.75
-5.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.1
$8.29 ¥57.3
-0.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.63
$1.17 ¥8.07
-5.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.0K
$17.8K ¥122.8K
10.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.7K
$19.6K ¥135.7K
-8.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥367
$35.18 ¥243
51.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.7
$16.51 ¥114
-47.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.6
$25.80 ¥178
-47.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$50.5 ¥349
-8.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$6.65 ¥45.94
197.14%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$7.49 ¥51.8
12.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,744
$425 ¥2,935
197.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.3K
$17.0K ¥117.2K
83.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$40.09 ¥277
45.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$26.66 ¥184
39.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$63.6 ¥440
22.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥664
$38.78 ¥268
147.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,563
$310 ¥2,139
206.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,933
$205 ¥1,413
178.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$591 ¥4,083
327.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,340
$370 ¥2,556
226.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.1K
$3,722 ¥25.7K
273.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.1K
$2,011 ¥13.9K
260.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Wuxi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$999 ¥6,902
68.93%
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: March 2, 2026

Last update for Wuxi: March 1, 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

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