😐A single person spends $922 per month in Shkoder vs $908 in Hangzhou, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,353 per month in Shkoder vs $1,462 in Hangzhou, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,784 per month in Shkoder vs $2,017 in Hangzhou, rent included.
😐Shkoder costs about 2% more than Hangzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Shkoder and Hangzhou are more affordable than the global median – Shkoder31% lower, Hangzhou32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.04ALL 496
$3.50¥23.68
72.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.04ALL 2,627
$26.22¥178
22.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.61ALL 378
$4.91¥33.24
-6.11%
Cappuccino
$1.79ALL 147
$3.39¥22.97
-47.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57ALL 129
$0.48¥3.26
227.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80ALL 65.7
$0.29¥1.98
175.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43ALL 199
$1.10¥7.44
120.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18ALL 260
$1.63¥11.02
95.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06ALL 169
$1.98¥13.42
4.04%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93ALL 75.9
$1.97¥13.32
-52.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01ALL 165
$0.99¥6.72
103.03%
Eggs
$2.91ALL 239
$1.81¥12.27
60.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87ALL 563
$16.80¥114
-59.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.89ALL 401
$2.58¥17.48
89.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.35ALL 849
$9.63¥65.2
7.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.52ALL 125
$2.04¥13.83
-25.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34ALL 192
$1.79¥12.12
30.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66ALL 136
$1.60¥10.80
3.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34ALL 110
$1.20¥8.12
11.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98ALL 80.7
$0.72¥4.85
36.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17ALL 95.8
$1.00¥6.77
17.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09ALL 89.6
$0.63¥4.26
73.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69ALL 56.9
$0.53¥3.62
30.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13ALL 338
$4.27¥28.90
-3.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.22ALL 510
$13.56¥91.8
-54.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46ALL 120
$0.69¥4.67
111.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67ALL 137
$1.70¥11.48
-1.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45ALL 36.87
$0.51¥3.43
-11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.61ALL 952
$15.03¥102
-22.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60ALL 295
$1.77¥11.97
103.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.07ALL 252
$0.42¥2.86
630.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.92ALL 1,470
$6.45¥43.65
177.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19ALL 180
$1.14¥7.71
92.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6KALL 2.8M
$19.5K¥131.7K
77.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9KALL 2.0M
$16.7K¥113.4K
48.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.9ALL 5,570
$45.27¥306
50.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.90ALL 1,386
$11.28¥76.3
49.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.11ALL 1,321
$18.42¥125
-12.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.50ALL 3,321
$60.0¥406
-32.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.69ALL 958
$15.86¥107
-26.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.20ALL 590
$6.42¥43.48
12.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$89.0ALL 7,296
$456¥3,086
-80.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,796ALL 147.3K
$28.5K¥193.1K
-93.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.65ALL 3,907
$56.2¥380
-15.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.91ALL 977
$34.96¥237
-65.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.0ALL 5,901
$72.1¥488
-0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142ALL 11.6K
$93.3¥632
51.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$310ALL 25.4K
$523¥3,543
-40.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300ALL 24.6K
$301¥2,037
-0.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353ALL 28.9K
$1,118¥7,565
-68.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347ALL 28.4K
$685¥4,636
-49.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,819ALL 149.1K
$7,767¥52.6K
-76.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,231ALL 101.0K
$3,765¥25.5K
-67.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shkoder
Hangzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$571ALL 46.9K
$1,470¥9,952
-61.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
3.83
30.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shkoder: May 31, 2026
Last update for Hangzhou: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $310 in Shkoder versus $523 in Hangzhou. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 157% higher in Hangzhou, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Shkoder versus $26.00 in Hangzhou. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Shkoder vs $223 in Hangzhou – so Shkoder wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Shkoder vs Hangzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hangzhou cheaper than Shkoder?
Yes – Shkoder is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,383 per month in Shkoder and $1,362 in Hangzhou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hangzhou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Shkoder and Hangzhou?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Shkoder – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Shkoder or Hangzhou?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Shkoder and $26.00 in Hangzhou. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Shkoder or Hangzhou?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hangzhou, where all-in costs run around $908, than in Shkoder at $922. In Hangzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shkoder it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Shkoder or Hangzhou more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hangzhou – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Hangzhou. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shkoder makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.