Cost of Living Comparison Between Shantou and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Shantou and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Shantou is 9.8% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 44% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shantou is 11.3% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 44.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ¥14.57
$4.73 ¥33.92
-57.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.4 ¥118
$36.17 ¥259
-54.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.89 ¥35.11
$5.6 ¥40.18
-12.68%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥22.41
$3.56 ¥25.53
-12.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.41
$0.54 ¥3.9
-11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ¥2.18
$0.36 ¥2.59
-16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 ¥6.18
$1.43 ¥10.25
-39.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 ¥18.47
$2.76 ¥19.81
-6.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.7 ¥12.18
$2.18 ¥15.66
-22.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ¥10.12
$1.81 ¥13
-22.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.89
$1.1 ¥7.9
-38.18%
Eggs
$1.86 ¥13.35
$1.69 ¥12.1
10.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.55 ¥90
$15.79 ¥113
-20.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 ¥27.1
$3.17 ¥22.76
19.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 ¥85.7
$10.88 ¥78.1
9.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.85 ¥13.31
$2.26 ¥16.24
-18.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 ¥10.49
$1.67 ¥11.98
-12.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 ¥12.07
$1.78 ¥12.78
-5.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 ¥9.11
$1.52 ¥10.94
-16.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.46
$0.85 ¥6.09
-10.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.67
$1.17 ¥8.37
-20.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.81
$0.68 ¥4.84
-1.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.4 ¥2.87
$0.6 ¥4.29
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.41 ¥24.44
$2.87 ¥20.56
18.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.46 ¥82.2
$11.16 ¥80
2.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥5.94
$0.8 ¥5.73
3.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.9 ¥13.65
$1.56 ¥11.22
21.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$0.4 ¥2.89
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.16 ¥159
$35.15 ¥252
-36.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ¥10.83
$2.29 ¥16.45
-34.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.51
$0.37 ¥2.69
-5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 ¥47.39
$8.14 ¥58.4
-18.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.1 ¥7.89
$1.09 ¥7.81
0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K ¥149.3K
$19.5K ¥140.1K
6.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K ¥139.4K
$18.2K ¥130.5K
6.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.4 ¥390
$51.6 ¥370
5.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$8.68 ¥62.2
-6.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.9 ¥92.6
$13.5 ¥96.8
-4.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.68 ¥299
$46.42 ¥333
-10.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.17 ¥102
$20.44 ¥147
-30.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.86 ¥49.2
$8.58 ¥61.5
-20.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$460 ¥3,303
$1,307 ¥9,378
-64.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K ¥148.8K
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-33.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.35 ¥347
$58.8 ¥422
-17.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.35 ¥218
$36.99 ¥265
-17.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76 ¥545
$77.7 ¥558
-2.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7 ¥557
$98.5 ¥706
-21.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 ¥2,029
$952 ¥6,827
-70.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 ¥982
$574 ¥4,115
-76.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$548 ¥3,932
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-78.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$284 ¥2,038
$1,201 ¥8,614
-76.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,102 ¥15.1K
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-85.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,210 ¥23K
$7,106 ¥51K
-54.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shantou
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$994 ¥7,127
$1,534 ¥11K
-35.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.04
3.58
12.85%

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

Last update for Shantou: October 27, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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