🇵🇱 Poland
75
Cost of Living Index in Poland
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and Shanghai
For one person, living is cheaper in Shanghai: $1,250 a month against $1,543 in South Korea, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. The total is higher in South Korea despite lower rent and utilities.
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😐 Solo nomad: South Korea is 51.3% more expensive than Shanghai without rent, and 23.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: South Korea is 50.1% more expensive than Shanghai without rent, and 23.7% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67 ₩10.3K
$4.55 ¥30.40
68.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.23 ₩60.6K
$29.52 ¥197
53.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.43 ₩8,617
$5.10 ¥34.08
26.08%
Cappuccino
$3.92 ₩5,254
$3.42 ¥22.88
14.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₩2,194
$0.61 ¥4.11
168.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₩1,115
$0.36 ¥2.40
130.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.63 ₩4,863
$1.21 ¥8.07
200.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 ₩6,098
$2.29 ¥15.31
98.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 ₩2,804
$1.86 ¥12.46
12.37%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₩4,051
$2.01 ¥13.45
50.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,534
$1.02 ¥6.83
231.37%
Eggs
$3.22 ₩4,311
$1.72 ¥11.46
87.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 ₩18.1K
$17.19 ¥115
-21.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.81 ₩11.8K
$3.35 ¥22.39
162.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.06 ₩34.9K
$12.80 ¥85.5
103.59%
Apples (1kg)
$8.59 ₩11.5K
$2.17 ¥14.51
295.85%
Banana (1kg)
$3.38 ₩4,535
$1.74 ¥11.65
94.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 ₩8,345
$1.94 ¥12.96
221.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.09 ₩8,166
$1.68 ¥11.23
262.50%
Potato (1kg)
$3.97 ₩5,319
$0.77 ¥5.17
415.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.72 ₩3,645
$0.93 ¥6.21
192.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 ₩3,484
$0.62 ¥4.16
319.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₩1,608
$0.58 ¥3.88
106.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₩4,531
$3.83 ¥25.60
-11.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.90 ₩21.3K
$10.94 ¥73.1
45.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₩2,706
$0.84 ¥5.59
140.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₩3,866
$1.60 ¥10.71
80.63%
🚌 Getting Around
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,529
$0.59 ¥3.92
93.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.85 ₩62.8K
$30.27 ¥202
54.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 ₩4,599
$2.06 ¥13.77
66.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₩860
$0.47 ¥3.13
36.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.10 ₩12.2K
$8.80 ¥58.8
3.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ₩1,852
$1.27 ¥8.51
8.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K ₩39.9M
$19.6K ¥131.0K
51.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K ₩40.1M
$18.6K ¥124.2K
60.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 ₩275.7K
$57.2 ¥382
259.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.21 ₩52.5K
$8.06 ¥53.8
386.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.22 ₩31.1K
$10.52 ¥70.3
120.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ₩70.7K
$64.6 ¥432
-18.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.59 ₩22.2K
$17.63 ¥118
-5.90%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 ₩14.7K
$8.84 ¥59.1
24.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$906 ₩1.2M
$1,437 ¥9,605
-36.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K ₩31.2M
$28.1K ¥187.5K
-16.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 ₩76.0K
$54.7 ¥365
3.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 ₩57.8K
$36.43 ¥243
18.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 ₩106.6K
$75.4 ¥504
5.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 ₩128.8K
$104 ¥695
-7.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 ₩794.3K
$1,039 ¥6,945
-42.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 ₩566.8K
$589 ¥3,933
-28.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 ₩2.1M
$2,487 ¥16.6K
-38.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$922 ₩1.2M
$1,237 ¥8,268
-25.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$16.5K ₩22.1M
$13.6K ¥90.8K
21.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,341 ₩11.2M
$6,191 ¥41.4K
34.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Korea
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,293 ₩3.1M
$1,715 ¥11.5K
33.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
3.36
25.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for South Korea: October 4, 2026
Last update for Shanghai: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
South Korea $449 28.7%
Shanghai $237 19% 47.2% $212
Accommodation & Living
South Korea $423 27.1%
Shanghai $589 47.1% 39.1% $166
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea $268 17.2%
Shanghai $76 6.1% 71.7% $192
Eating Out
South Korea $165 10.6%
Shanghai $107 8.6% 34.9% $58
Clothing & Footwear
South Korea $124 7.9%
Shanghai $122 9.7% 1.8% $2.3
Sport & Entertainment
South Korea $75 4.8%
Shanghai $82 6.6% 10.1% $7.5
Getting Around
South Korea $58 3.7%
Shanghai $37 3% 36.3% $21
Groceries & Markets
South Korea $1.1K 31%
Shanghai $551 19.9% 47.8% $503
Accommodation & Living
South Korea $922 27.2%
Shanghai $1.2K 44.8% 34.2% $315
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Korea $307 9.1%
Shanghai $84 3% 72.7% $224
Eating Out
South Korea $552 16.3%
Shanghai $362 13.1% 34.5% $191
Clothing & Footwear
South Korea $276 8.1%
Shanghai $270 9.8% 1.8% $5.1
Sport & Entertainment
South Korea $166 4.9%
Shanghai $182 6.6% 9.7% $16
Getting Around
South Korea $118 3.5%
Shanghai $75 2.7% 36.5% $43
Good to know
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇨🇳 Shanghai
Weather
Population
51,466,201
24,870,895
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- South Korea Shanghai 870 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
- South Korea
- Shanghai
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
South Korea vs other spots: cost of living compared
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