Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Xining Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Xining

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 23.8% more expensive than Xining without rent, and 73.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 26% more expensive than Xining without rent, and 74.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 ¥33.14

$2.83 ¥19.57

69.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.90 ¥248

$21.80 ¥151

64.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 ¥37.34

$4.85 ¥33.49

11.34%

Cappuccino

$3.58 ¥24.72

$2.98 ¥20.61

20.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥4.04

$0.47 ¥3.21

25.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ¥2.32

$0.29 ¥2.01

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 ¥9.53

$0.89 ¥6.17

55.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ¥19.19

$2.11 ¥14.60

31.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 ¥14.70

$1.82 ¥12.57

17.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 ¥12.38

$1.61 ¥11.15

11.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.30

$0.92 ¥6.33

15.22%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥11.30

$1.60 ¥11.06

1.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.57 ¥108

$12.97 ¥89.6

20.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 ¥21.40

$3.11 ¥21.48

-0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 ¥76.0

$10.06 ¥69.5

9.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 ¥15.61

$1.79 ¥12.36

26.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.97

$1.20 ¥8.30

44.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.48

$1.49 ¥10.26

21.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ¥10.04

$1.14 ¥7.86

27.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ¥5.43

$0.69 ¥4.77

14.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.80

$0.91 ¥6.27

24.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ¥4.70

$0.56 ¥3.87

21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.89

$0.52 ¥3.59

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 ¥18.77

$3.06 ¥21.13

-11.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 ¥75.4

$10.75 ¥74.3

1.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.75

$0.78 ¥5.41

6.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ¥11.13

$1.66 ¥11.45

-3.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.98

$0.27 ¥1.86

59.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.22 ¥236

$16.64 ¥115

105.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 ¥14.99

$1.36 ¥9.41

59.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ¥2.60

$0.33 ¥2.26

15.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.27 ¥57.1

$6.74 ¥46.56

22.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.63

$1.12 ¥7.77

-1.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.5K ¥135.0K

$19.8K ¥136.6K

-1.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.9K ¥123.7K

$17.5K ¥120.9K

2.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$53.1 ¥367

$44.36 ¥307

19.79%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.64 ¥59.7

$9.85 ¥68.0

-12.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.54 ¥93.6

$11.94 ¥82.5

13.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.44 ¥321

$41.90 ¥290

10.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.76 ¥137

$13.84 ¥95.7

42.77%

Cinema Ticket

$8.42 ¥58.2

$5.99 ¥41.41

40.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,265 ¥8,744

$328 ¥2,266

285.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.2K ¥215.3K

$17.2K ¥118.6K

81.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 ¥403

$43.26 ¥299

34.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.31 ¥258

$30.54 ¥211

22.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 ¥537

$71.1 ¥491

9.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ¥664

$72.6 ¥502

32.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 ¥6,563

$275 ¥1,899

245.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 ¥3,933

$192 ¥1,328

196.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,528 ¥17.5K

$603 ¥4,166

319.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ¥8,340

$360 ¥2,487

235.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.9K ¥96.1K

$3,001 ¥20.7K

363.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,247 ¥50.1K

$2,012 ¥13.9K

260.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,687 ¥11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.58

3.89

-7.97%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Xining: March 2, 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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