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

🙂 Solo nomad: Zhengzhou is 5.8% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 41.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Zhengzhou is 18.5% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 42.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11 ¥15.1
$4.73 ¥33.92
-55.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.04 ¥122
$36.17 ¥259
-52.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ¥29.36
$5.6 ¥40.18
-26.96%
Cappuccino
$2.65 ¥19.01
$3.56 ¥25.53
-25.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥3.08
$0.54 ¥3.9
-20.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ¥1.87
$0.36 ¥2.59
-27.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 ¥6.19
$1.43 ¥10.25
-39.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 ¥12.11
$2.76 ¥19.81
-38.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ¥10.84
$2.18 ¥15.66
-30.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 ¥10.98
$1.81 ¥13
-15.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 ¥6.36
$1.1 ¥7.9
-19.09%
Eggs
$1.02 ¥7.3
$1.69 ¥12.1
-39.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.7 ¥98.3
$15.79 ¥113
-13.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.24 ¥16.05
$3.17 ¥22.76
-29.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.42 ¥81.9
$10.88 ¥78.1
4.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 ¥8.18
$2.26 ¥16.24
-49.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ¥7.41
$1.67 ¥11.98
-38.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.78 ¥5.57
$1.78 ¥12.78
-56.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.07 ¥7.65
$1.52 ¥10.94
-29.61%
Potato (1kg)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$0.85 ¥6.09
-29.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$1.17 ¥8.37
-50.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 ¥3.19
$0.68 ¥4.84
-33.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ¥4.59
$0.6 ¥4.29
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.9 ¥20.83
$2.87 ¥20.56
1.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.11 ¥101
$11.16 ¥80
26.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥5.43
$0.8 ¥5.73
-5.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ¥12.98
$1.56 ¥11.22
16.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.13 ¥0.96
$0.4 ¥2.89
-67.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.86 ¥99.4
$35.15 ¥252
-60.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.72
$2.29 ¥16.45
-40.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 ¥1.85
$0.37 ¥2.69
-29.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.4 ¥24.41
$8.14 ¥58.4
-58.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 ¥8.61
$1.09 ¥7.81
10.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ¥137K
$19.5K ¥140.1K
-2.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥121.3K
$18.2K ¥130.5K
-7.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72 ¥516
$51.6 ¥370
39.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.84 ¥63.4
$8.68 ¥62.2
1.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.22 ¥73.3
$13.5 ¥96.8
-24.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$92.8 ¥666
$46.42 ¥333
99.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.22 ¥66.1
$20.44 ¥147
-54.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.15 ¥36.93
$8.58 ¥61.5
-39.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$256 ¥1,838
$1,307 ¥9,378
-80.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.8K ¥142.2K
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-36.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.1 ¥331
$58.8 ¥422
-21.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.76 ¥235
$36.99 ¥265
-11.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ¥559
$77.7 ¥558
0.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.7 ¥478
$98.5 ¥706
-32.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 ¥1,408
$952 ¥6,827
-79.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 ¥990
$574 ¥4,115
-75.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$458 ¥3,287
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-81.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 ¥2,095
$1,201 ¥8,614
-75.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,726 ¥19.6K
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-81.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,366 ¥9,795
$7,106 ¥51K
-80.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhengzhou
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$695 ¥4,982
$1,534 ¥11K
-54.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.86
3.58
35.75%

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

Last update for Zhengzhou: October 28, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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