Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhongshan and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhongshan and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Zhongshan is 16.9% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 47.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Zhongshan is 29.6% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 49.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77 ¥19.83
$4.73 ¥33.92
-41.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.58 ¥119
$36.17 ¥259
-54.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.21 ¥30.19
$5.6 ¥40.18
-24.82%
Cappuccino
$2.78 ¥19.93
$3.56 ¥25.53
-21.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.15
$0.54 ¥3.9
-18.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.92
$0.36 ¥2.59
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.73 ¥5.27
$1.43 ¥10.25
-48.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.7 ¥12.16
$2.76 ¥19.81
-38.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ¥12.5
$2.18 ¥15.66
-20.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 ¥12.47
$1.81 ¥13
-3.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.9 ¥6.46
$1.1 ¥7.9
-18.18%
Eggs
$1.64 ¥11.78
$1.69 ¥12.1
-2.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.82 ¥91.9
$15.79 ¥113
-18.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.68 ¥19.25
$3.17 ¥22.76
-15.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 ¥91.6
$10.88 ¥78.1
17.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ¥13.35
$2.26 ¥16.24
-17.70%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.66
$1.67 ¥11.98
-44.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.66 ¥4.7
$1.78 ¥12.78
-62.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 ¥9.94
$1.52 ¥10.94
-8.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 ¥3.84
$0.85 ¥6.09
-36.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 ¥5.09
$1.17 ¥8.37
-39.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.4 ¥2.85
$0.68 ¥4.84
-41.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ¥3.35
$0.6 ¥4.29
-21.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.59
$2.87 ¥20.56
-
Wine (Bottle)
$12.23 ¥87.8
$11.16 ¥80
9.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.39
$0.8 ¥5.73
-23.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ¥13.36
$1.56 ¥11.22
19.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.4 ¥2.89
-27.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.01 ¥100
$35.15 ¥252
-60.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 ¥8.88
$2.29 ¥16.45
-45.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.49
$0.37 ¥2.69
-5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.87 ¥49.3
$8.14 ¥58.4
-15.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.03
$1.09 ¥7.81
2.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K ¥166.3K
$19.5K ¥140.1K
18.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ¥145.7K
$18.2K ¥130.5K
11.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.34 ¥275
$51.6 ¥370
-25.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.21 ¥58.9
$8.68 ¥62.2
-5.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.86 ¥85.1
$13.5 ¥96.8
-12.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ¥443
$46.42 ¥333
33.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.15 ¥51.3
$20.44 ¥147
-65.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.46 ¥39.17
$8.58 ¥61.5
-36.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$294 ¥2,106
$1,307 ¥9,378
-77.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ¥91.3K
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-59.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.41 ¥311
$58.8 ¥422
-26.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.02 ¥222
$36.99 ¥265
-16.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56 ¥402
$77.7 ¥558
-27.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 ¥490
$98.5 ¥706
-30.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$193 ¥1,384
$952 ¥6,827
-79.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$117 ¥837
$574 ¥4,115
-79.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 ¥2,476
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-86.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$199 ¥1,426
$1,201 ¥8,614
-83.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,389 ¥17.1K
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-83.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,409 ¥10.1K
$7,106 ¥51K
-80.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhongshan
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$797 ¥5,717
$1,534 ¥11K
-48.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.83
3.58
6.98%

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

Last update for Zhongshan: October 29, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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