Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Zhongshan Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Zhongshan

😐 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 40.7% more expensive than Zhongshan without rent, and 88.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Shanghai is 31.5% more expensive than Zhongshan without rent, and 104.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 ¥33.14
$2.84 ¥19.66
69.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.90 ¥248
$16.53 ¥114
117.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.40 ¥37.34
$4.15 ¥28.67
30.12%
Cappuccino
$3.58 ¥24.72
$2.76 ¥19.09
29.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥4.04
$0.40 ¥2.79
47.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.32
$0.27 ¥1.85
25.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.53
$0.68 ¥4.68
102.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ¥19.19
$1.69 ¥11.70
64.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ¥14.70
$1.81 ¥12.51
17.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.79 ¥12.38
$1.73 ¥11.95
3.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.30
$0.97 ¥6.68
9.28%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥11.30
$1.59 ¥10.97
2.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.57 ¥108
$12.71 ¥87.9
22.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ¥21.40
$2.69 ¥18.56
15.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 ¥76.0
$12.29 ¥84.9
-10.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥15.61
$1.86 ¥12.87
21.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.97
$1.01 ¥6.99
71.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 ¥12.48
$0.64 ¥4.42
182.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ¥10.04
$1.39 ¥9.60
4.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ¥5.43
$0.50 ¥3.47
58.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ¥7.80
$0.69 ¥4.76
63.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.70
$0.36 ¥2.50
88.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.89
$0.48 ¥3.30
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 ¥18.77
$2.77 ¥19.13
-1.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.92 ¥75.4
$13.67 ¥94.5
-20.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.75
$0.65 ¥4.50
27.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥11.13
$1.91 ¥13.17
-15.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.98
$0.29 ¥2.01
48.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.22 ¥236
$14.20 ¥98.1
140.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 ¥14.99
$1.24 ¥8.55
75.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ¥2.60
$0.37 ¥2.58
2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 ¥57.1
$6.83 ¥47.21
21.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ¥7.63
$1.14 ¥7.85
-3.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥135.0K
$23.3K ¥160.9K
-16.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥123.7K
$20.5K ¥141.9K
-12.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.1 ¥367
$38.55 ¥266
37.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.64 ¥59.7
$8.47 ¥58.5
2.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.54 ¥93.6
$11.97 ¥82.7
13.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.44 ¥321
$62.0 ¥428
-25.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.76 ¥137
$6.85 ¥47.33
188.47%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42 ¥58.2
$5.46 ¥37.70
54.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,265 ¥8,744
$300 ¥2,072
321.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.2K ¥215.3K
$12.4K ¥85.6K
151.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 ¥403
$43.97 ¥304
32.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.31 ¥258
$30.55 ¥211
22.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥537
$56.7 ¥392
37.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ¥664
$70.1 ¥484
37.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 ¥6,563
$199 ¥1,372
378.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$569 ¥3,933
$118 ¥812
384.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,528 ¥17.5K
$349 ¥2,410
625.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ¥8,340
$198 ¥1,366
510.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.9K ¥96.1K
$2,403 ¥16.6K
478.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,247 ¥50.1K
$1,466 ¥10.1K
394.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Zhongshan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 ¥11.7K
$824 ¥5,696
104.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
3.83
-6.53%

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

Last update for Shanghai: March 2, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: March 1, 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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