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Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhengzhou and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhengzhou and Shanghai

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Zhengzhou is 12.8% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 39.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Zhengzhou is 21.1% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 44.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 ยฅ14.24
$4.77 ยฅ33.30
-57.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.46 ยฅ115
$35.92 ยฅ251
-54.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.07 ยฅ28.38
$5.45 ยฅ38.01
-25.32%
Cappuccino
$2.56 ยฅ17.85
$3.42 ยฅ23.89
-25.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ยฅ2.97
$0.58 ยฅ4.07
-25.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ยฅ1.82
$0.34 ยฅ2.35
-23.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.81 ยฅ5.67
$1.42 ยฅ9.91
-42.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ยฅ11.55
$2.80 ยฅ19.56
-41.07%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 ยฅ10.58
$2.09 ยฅ14.59
-27.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 ยฅ10.67
$1.85 ยฅ12.92
-17.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 ยฅ6.08
$1.10 ยฅ7.66
-20.91%
Eggs
$0.98 ยฅ6.84
$1.60 ยฅ11.20
-38.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.83 ยฅ96.5
$15.28 ยฅ107
-9.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.16 ยฅ15.10
$3.08 ยฅ21.53
-29.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.20 ยฅ78.2
$10.85 ยฅ75.8
3.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.10 ยฅ7.67
$2.33 ยฅ16.30
-52.79%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 ยฅ6.90
$1.77 ยฅ12.35
-44.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.84 ยฅ5.84
$1.78 ยฅ12.42
-52.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 ยฅ7.71
$1.47 ยฅ10.28
-25.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ยฅ4.05
$0.81 ยฅ5.64
-28.40%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ยฅ3.82
$1.16 ยฅ8.10
-52.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 ยฅ3.33
$0.63 ยฅ4.37
-23.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ยฅ4.48
$0.60 ยฅ4.17
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83 ยฅ19.78
$2.77 ยฅ19.35
2.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.21 ยฅ99.2
$11.49 ยฅ80.2
23.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ยฅ5.39
$0.84 ยฅ5.86
-8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ยฅ12.77
$1.61 ยฅ11.27
13.66%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.14 ยฅ0.99
$0.40 ยฅ2.79
-65.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.42 ยฅ93.7
$34.13 ยฅ238
-60.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 ยฅ9.58
$2.29 ยฅ15.98
-40.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ยฅ1.97
$0.38 ยฅ2.63
-26.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.36 ยฅ23.43
$8.32 ยฅ58.1
-59.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ยฅ8.33
$1.15 ยฅ8.00
3.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K ยฅ128.3K
$19.7K ยฅ137.2K
-6.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K ยฅ115.2K
$18.3K ยฅ127.5K
-9.64%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.4 ยฅ505
$52.1 ยฅ363
39.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.02 ยฅ63.0
$8.79 ยฅ61.3
2.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.05 ยฅ70.2
$13.87 ยฅ96.8
-27.54%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$94.2 ยฅ658
$46.42 ยฅ324
102.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.65 ยฅ67.3
$19.78 ยฅ138
-51.21%
Cinema Ticket
$5.13 ยฅ35.82
$8.28 ยฅ57.8
-38.04%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$250 ยฅ1,744
$1,297 ยฅ9,056
-80.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.4K ยฅ135.6K
$30.9K ยฅ215.7K
-37.10%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.42 ยฅ324
$59.8 ยฅ417
-22.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.80 ยฅ229
$38.03 ยฅ265
-13.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 ยฅ538
$77.5 ยฅ541
-0.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.1 ยฅ468
$99.3 ยฅ693
-32.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$198 ยฅ1,383
$944 ยฅ6,591
-79.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$141 ยฅ986
$570 ยฅ3,981
-75.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$451 ยฅ3,148
$2,460 ยฅ17.2K
-81.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ยฅ2,079
$1,204 ยฅ8,401
-75.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,800 ยฅ19.5K
$14.2K ยฅ99.5K
-80.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,349 ยฅ9,418
$7,080 ยฅ49.4K
-80.94%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$871 ยฅ6,082
$1,632 ยฅ11.4K
-46.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.86
3.58
35.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Zhengzhou: January 12, 2026

Last update for Shanghai: January 10, 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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