Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Xiamen Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Xiamen

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 23.7% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 54.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 29.9% more expensive than Xiamen without rent, and 52% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.76 ¥19.79
71.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$23.39 ¥168
54.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$5.63 ¥40.41
-0.53%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.75 ¥19.74
29.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.51 ¥3.62
5.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.31 ¥2.25
16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$1.41 ¥10.12
1.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$3.52 ¥25.26
-21.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.86 ¥13.37
17.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$2.14 ¥15.37
-15.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.75 ¥5.41
46.67%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.35 ¥9.68
25.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$11.04 ¥79.2
43.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.36 ¥16.91
34.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$11.06 ¥79.4
-1.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.45 ¥17.55
-7.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.38 ¥9.88
21.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$1.56 ¥11.17
14.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.82 ¥13.09
-16.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.9 ¥6.48
-5.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$1.71 ¥12.28
-31.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.81 ¥5.84
-16.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.51 ¥3.65
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.77 ¥19.85
3.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$10.51 ¥75.4
6.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.8 ¥5.72
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.64 ¥11.77
-4.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.22 ¥1.58
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$11.1 ¥79.6
216.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.37 ¥9.79
67.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.28 ¥2.03
32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$6.61 ¥47.44
23.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.13 ¥8.1
-3.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$16.3K ¥116.7K
20.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$17.8K ¥127.7K
2.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$39.45 ¥283
30.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$9.96 ¥71.4
-12.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$9.71 ¥69.7
39.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$43.63 ¥313
6.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$9.98 ¥71.6
104.81%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$9.6 ¥68.8
-10.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$459 ¥3,292
184.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$22.7K ¥163K
38.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$42.43 ¥304
38.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$27.41 ¥197
34.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$83.5 ¥599
-6.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$79.3 ¥569
24.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$335 ¥2,403
184.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$249 ¥1,784
130.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$844 ¥6,056
198.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$508 ¥3,646
136.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$8,753 ¥62.8K
64.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$5,019 ¥36K
41.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Xiamen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$847 ¥6,073
81.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.56
0.56%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Xiamen: October 28, 2025

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