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Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Zhengzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Zhengzhou

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Shanghai is 14.7% more expensive than Zhengzhou without rent, and 64.5% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Shanghai is 26.8% more expensive than Zhengzhou without rent, and 79.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.77 ยฅ33.30
$2.04 ยฅ14.24
133.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.92 ยฅ251
$16.46 ยฅ115
118.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 ยฅ38.01
$4.07 ยฅ28.38
33.91%
Cappuccino
$3.42 ยฅ23.89
$2.56 ยฅ17.85
33.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ยฅ4.07
$0.43 ยฅ2.97
34.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ยฅ2.35
$0.26 ยฅ1.82
30.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 ยฅ9.91
$0.81 ยฅ5.67
75.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ยฅ19.56
$1.65 ยฅ11.55
69.70%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ยฅ14.59
$1.52 ยฅ10.58
37.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 ยฅ12.92
$1.53 ยฅ10.67
20.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 ยฅ7.66
$0.87 ยฅ6.08
26.44%
Eggs
$1.60 ยฅ11.20
$0.98 ยฅ6.84
63.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.28 ยฅ107
$13.83 ยฅ96.5
10.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 ยฅ21.53
$2.16 ยฅ15.10
42.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ยฅ75.8
$11.20 ยฅ78.2
-3.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 ยฅ16.30
$1.10 ยฅ7.67
111.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 ยฅ12.35
$0.99 ยฅ6.90
78.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ยฅ12.42
$0.84 ยฅ5.84
111.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 ยฅ10.28
$1.10 ยฅ7.71
33.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 ยฅ5.64
$0.58 ยฅ4.05
39.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 ยฅ8.10
$0.55 ยฅ3.82
110.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 ยฅ4.37
$0.48 ยฅ3.33
31.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ยฅ4.17
$0.64 ยฅ4.48
-6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77 ยฅ19.35
$2.83 ยฅ19.78
-2.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.49 ยฅ80.2
$14.21 ยฅ99.2
-19.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ยฅ5.86
$0.77 ยฅ5.39
9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ยฅ11.27
$1.83 ยฅ12.77
-12.02%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 ยฅ2.79
$0.14 ยฅ0.99
185.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.13 ยฅ238
$13.42 ยฅ93.7
154.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ยฅ15.98
$1.37 ยฅ9.58
67.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ยฅ2.63
$0.28 ยฅ1.97
35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 ยฅ58.1
$3.36 ยฅ23.43
147.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ยฅ8.00
$1.19 ยฅ8.33
-3.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ยฅ137.2K
$18.4K ยฅ128.3K
6.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3K ยฅ127.5K
$16.5K ยฅ115.2K
10.67%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.1 ยฅ363
$72.4 ยฅ505
-28.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.79 ยฅ61.3
$9.02 ยฅ63.0
-2.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.87 ยฅ96.8
$10.05 ยฅ70.2
38.01%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ยฅ324
$94.2 ยฅ658
-50.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.78 ยฅ138
$9.65 ยฅ67.3
104.97%
Cinema Ticket
$8.28 ยฅ57.8
$5.13 ยฅ35.82
61.40%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,297 ยฅ9,056
$250 ยฅ1,744
419.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.9K ยฅ215.7K
$19.4K ยฅ135.6K
58.99%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 ยฅ417
$46.42 ยฅ324
28.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.03 ยฅ265
$32.80 ยฅ229
15.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 ยฅ541
$77.1 ยฅ538
0.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3 ยฅ693
$67.1 ยฅ468
48.00%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 ยฅ6,591
$198 ยฅ1,383
376.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 ยฅ3,981
$141 ยฅ986
303.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,460 ยฅ17.2K
$451 ยฅ3,148
445.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,204 ยฅ8,401
$298 ยฅ2,079
304.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.2K ยฅ99.5K
$2,800 ยฅ19.5K
408.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,080 ยฅ49.4K
$1,349 ยฅ9,418
424.68%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 ยฅ11.4K
$871 ยฅ6,082
87.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.86
-26.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Shanghai: January 10, 2026

Last update for Zhengzhou: January 12, 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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