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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 16.1% more expensive than Zhengzhou without rent, and 70% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 26.9% more expensive than Zhengzhou without rent, and 81.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.19
$2.11 ¥14.61
127.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$16.72 ¥116
114.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.40
$4.22 ¥29.23
27.96%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.76
$2.65 ¥18.35
35.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.05
$0.46 ¥3.16
28.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.33
$0.26 ¥1.82
30.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.55
$0.82 ¥5.68
68.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.22
$1.69 ¥11.66
64.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.72
$1.52 ¥10.49
40.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.39
$1.52 ¥10.52
17.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.31
$0.84 ¥5.85
26.19%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.31
$0.98 ¥6.75
66.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$13.97 ¥96.7
11.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.43
$2.16 ¥14.94
43.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.1
$11.59 ¥80.2
-5.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.63
$1.10 ¥7.59
105.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.98
$0.99 ¥6.86
74.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.50
$0.84 ¥5.81
115.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.05
$1.07 ¥7.39
35.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.44
$0.56 ¥3.86
41.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.81
$0.54 ¥3.72
109.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.71
$0.44 ¥3.07
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.63 ¥4.37
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.80
$2.99 ¥20.69
-9.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.5
$14.28 ¥98.8
-23.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$0.76 ¥5.26
9.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.15
$1.87 ¥12.95
-13.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.16 ¥1.08
168.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥237
$13.60 ¥94.1
151.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥15.02
$1.40 ¥9.70
55.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.61
$0.28 ¥1.95
35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.2
$3.28 ¥22.70
152.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.64
$1.14 ¥7.91
-3.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.2K
$18.5K ¥128.1K
5.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.8K
$16.9K ¥117.3K
5.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥368
$72.3 ¥500
-26.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.8
$8.71 ¥60.3
-0.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.7
$10.34 ¥71.6
30.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$93.3 ¥646
-50.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$9.64 ¥66.7
104.98%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$5.10 ¥35.29
65.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,757
$250 ¥1,729
406.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.6K
$19.4K ¥133.9K
61.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$44.81 ¥310
30.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$32.89 ¥228
13.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$75.4 ¥522
3.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥665
$67.2 ¥465
42.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,573
$198 ¥1,370
379.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,939
$136 ¥945
317.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$456 ¥3,154
454.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,352
$303 ¥2,095
298.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.2K
$2,966 ¥20.5K
368.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.2K
$1,534 ¥10.6K
372.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$889 ¥6,153
89.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
4.86
-26.34%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Zhengzhou: March 3, 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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