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

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 6.1% more expensive than Zhengzhou without rent, and 72.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 22.7% more expensive than Zhengzhou without rent, and 74% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$2.11 ¥15.1
124.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$17.04 ¥122
112.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$4.09 ¥29.36
36.92%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$2.65 ¥19.01
34.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$0.43 ¥3.08
25.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.26 ¥1.87
38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$0.86 ¥6.19
66.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$1.69 ¥12.11
63.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.51 ¥10.84
44.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$1.53 ¥10.98
18.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$0.89 ¥6.36
23.60%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$1.02 ¥7.3
65.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$13.7 ¥98.3
15.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$2.24 ¥16.05
41.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$11.42 ¥81.9
-4.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$1.14 ¥8.18
98.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.03 ¥7.41
62.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$0.78 ¥5.57
128.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$1.07 ¥7.65
42.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$0.6 ¥4.29
41.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$0.58 ¥4.14
101.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$0.45 ¥3.19
51.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.64 ¥4.59
-6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$2.9 ¥20.83
-1.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$14.11 ¥101
-20.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$0.76 ¥5.43
5.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$1.81 ¥12.98
-13.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.13 ¥0.96
207.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$13.86 ¥99.4
153.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.36 ¥9.72
68.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.26 ¥1.85
42.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$3.4 ¥24.41
139.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.2 ¥8.61
-9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$19.1K ¥137K
2.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$16.9K ¥121.3K
7.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$72 ¥516
-28.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$8.84 ¥63.4
-1.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$10.22 ¥73.3
32.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$92.8 ¥666
-49.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$9.22 ¥66.1
121.69%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$5.15 ¥36.93
66.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$256 ¥1,838
410.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$19.8K ¥142.2K
58.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$46.1 ¥331
27.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$32.76 ¥235
12.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$77.9 ¥559
-0.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$66.7 ¥478
47.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$196 ¥1,408
384.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$138 ¥990
315.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$458 ¥3,287
449.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$292 ¥2,095
311.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$2,726 ¥19.6K
427.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$1,366 ¥9,795
420.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Zhengzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$695 ¥4,982
120.81%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Zhengzhou: October 28, 2025

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