Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Xi'an Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Xi'an

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 30% more expensive than Xi'an without rent, and 73.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 31.9% more expensive than Xi'an without rent, and 75.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.71 ¥19.46
74.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$18.02 ¥129
100.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$5.45 ¥39.1
2.75%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.35 ¥24.03
6.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.42 ¥3.03
28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.26 ¥1.85
38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.08 ¥7.77
32.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.71 ¥12.24
61.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.57 ¥11.28
38.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.6 ¥11.51
13.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.87 ¥6.23
26.44%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.67 ¥11.96
1.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$7.05 ¥50.6
123.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.05 ¥14.68
54.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$8.84 ¥63.4
23.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.6 ¥11.48
41.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.15 ¥8.22
45.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.29 ¥9.23
37.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$0.76 ¥5.46
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.66 ¥4.75
28.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.56 ¥4.01
108.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.55 ¥3.97
23.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.52 ¥3.76
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.81 ¥20.16
2.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$7 ¥50.2
59.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.78 ¥5.6
2.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.77 ¥12.68
-11.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.51 ¥3.63
-21.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$33.97 ¥244
3.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.33 ¥9.56
72.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.32 ¥2.3
15.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$4.3 ¥30.81
89.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.19 ¥8.53
-8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$20.6K ¥148K
-5.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.5K ¥118.3K
10.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$45.13 ¥324
14.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$5.81 ¥41.66
49.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$11.89 ¥85.3
13.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$43.91 ¥315
5.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$16.52 ¥119
23.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$4.75 ¥34.05
80.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$335 ¥2,405
290.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$17.9K ¥128.2K
75.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$55.6 ¥399
5.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$38 ¥273
-2.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$69.4 ¥498
11.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$69.7 ¥500
41.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$250 ¥1,796
280.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$189 ¥1,358
202.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$497 ¥3,562
406.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$380 ¥2,723
216.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,431 ¥17.4K
491.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,583 ¥11.4K
348.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Xi'an
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$823 ¥5,900
86.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.32
-17.13%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Xi'an: October 27, 2025

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