Cost of Living Comparison Between Urumqi and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Urumqi and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Urumqi is 39.1% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 57.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Urumqi is 41.6% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 57.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.28 ¥23.53
$4.73 ¥33.92
-30.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.45 ¥140
$36.17 ¥259
-46.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.27 ¥37.82
$5.6 ¥40.18
-5.89%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ¥21.42
$3.56 ¥25.53
-16.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥3.08
$0.54 ¥3.9
-20.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.2 ¥1.43
$0.36 ¥2.59
-44.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ¥8.18
$1.43 ¥10.25
-20.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 ¥18.87
$2.76 ¥19.81
-4.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 ¥7.6
$2.18 ¥15.66
-51.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ¥5.8
$1.81 ¥13
-55.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.33 ¥2.4
$1.1 ¥7.9
-70.00%
Eggs
$1.48 ¥10.62
$1.69 ¥12.1
-12.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.42 ¥38.91
$15.79 ¥113
-65.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.1 ¥15.09
$3.17 ¥22.76
-33.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.23 ¥73.4
$10.88 ¥78.1
-5.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.69 ¥12.13
$2.26 ¥16.24
-25.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.87
$1.67 ¥11.98
-34.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 ¥10.18
$1.78 ¥12.78
-20.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 ¥4.15
$1.52 ¥10.94
-61.84%
Potato (1kg)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.85 ¥6.09
-52.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.17
$1.17 ¥8.37
-26.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 ¥5.26
$0.68 ¥4.84
7.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.69
$0.6 ¥4.29
-15.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21 ¥15.85
$2.87 ¥20.56
-23.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.53 ¥68.4
$11.16 ¥80
-14.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 ¥7.57
$0.8 ¥5.73
32.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ¥12.73
$1.56 ¥11.22
13.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 ¥1.13
$0.4 ¥2.89
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.08 ¥101
$35.15 ¥252
-59.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ¥10.11
$2.29 ¥16.45
-38.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ¥2.55
$0.37 ¥2.69
-2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.6 ¥54.5
$8.14 ¥58.4
-6.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥7.97
$1.09 ¥7.81
1.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K ¥162.7K
$19.5K ¥140.1K
16.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K ¥141.8K
$18.2K ¥130.5K
8.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$42.3 ¥303
$51.6 ¥370
-17.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.56 ¥39.88
$8.68 ¥62.2
-35.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.65 ¥97.9
$13.5 ¥96.8
1.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.18 ¥102
$46.42 ¥333
-69.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.3 ¥59.5
$20.44 ¥147
-59.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.91 ¥35.23
$8.58 ¥61.5
-42.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$169 ¥1,210
$1,307 ¥9,378
-87.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,736 ¥55.5K
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-75.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.39 ¥204
$58.8 ¥422
-51.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.98 ¥100
$36.99 ¥265
-62.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 ¥620
$77.7 ¥558
11.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.09 ¥201
$98.5 ¥706
-71.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$245 ¥1,756
$952 ¥6,827
-74.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 ¥805
$574 ¥4,115
-80.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 ¥2,908
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-83.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$205 ¥1,473
$1,201 ¥8,614
-82.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,937 ¥13.9K
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-86.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,312 ¥9,411
$7,106 ¥51K
-81.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Urumqi
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,023 ¥7,338
$1,534 ¥11K
-33.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
3.58
-16.20%

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

Last update for Urumqi: October 26, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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