Cost of Living in Shanghai
Country: China · Currency: CNY
Overall
47.2
Rent
29.8
Groceries
56.6
Dining out
50.2
Index base: New York = 100
Monthly rent
| 1-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly) | $1,123 | 15 data points |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly) | $819 | 13 data points |
| 3-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly) | $2,667 | 31 data points |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly) | $1,498 | 45 data points |
Average prices in Shanghai
Rent
| 1-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly) | $1,123 | 15 data points |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly) | $819 | 13 data points |
| 3-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly) | $2,667 | 31 data points |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly) | $1,498 | 45 data points |
Groceries
| Milk (1L) | $0.89 | 32 data points |
| White bread (500g) | $2.39 | 11 data points |
| Rice (1kg) | $3.36 | 48 data points |
| Eggs (12) | $3.12 | 21 data points |
| Local cheese (1kg) | $8.28 | 33 data points |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | $8 | 18 data points |
| Beef round (1kg) | $12.9 | 39 data points |
| Apples (1kg) | $3.55 | 59 data points |
| Bananas (1kg) | $1.42 | 40 data points |
| Oranges (1kg) | $3.11 | 26 data points |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | $3.04 | 41 data points |
| Potatoes (1kg) | $1.83 | 8 data points |
| Onions (1kg) | $1.6 | 28 data points |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $1.6 | 23 data points |
| Water (1.5L bottle) | $1.62 | 56 data points |
| Bottle of wine (mid-range) | $9.46 | 15 data points |
Transport
| Public transport, one-way ticket | $1.25 | 5 data points |
| Public transport, monthly pass | $69.5 | 9 data points |
| Taxi, base fare | $1.95 | 56 data points |
| Taxi, per km | $0.91 | 38 data points |
| Gasoline (1L) | $0.52 | 15 data points |
| New compact car (e.g., VW Golf) | $13,544 | 21 data points |
Dining out
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $11.2 | 60 data points |
| Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant (3 courses) | $71.4 | 50 data points |
| Fast food combo meal | $6.06 | 17 data points |
| Cappuccino | $3.29 | 19 data points |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33L, restaurant) | $1.53 | 28 data points |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3.76 | 25 data points |
| Imported beer (0.33L, restaurant) | $4.63 | 12 data points |
| Water (0.33L, restaurant) | $1.27 | 12 data points |
Telecom
| Mobile plan, calls + 10GB+ data (monthly) | $37.8 | 46 data points |
| Broadband internet 60Mbps+ (monthly) | $42.3 | 23 data points |
| Prepaid mobile tariff (1 min) | $0.21 | 54 data points |
| Video streaming subscription (monthly) | $10.7 | 5 data points |
Utilities & household
| Basic utilities, 85m² apartment (monthly) | $113 | 49 data points |
| Electricity (1 kWh) | $0.14 | 46 data points |
| Tap water (1m³) | $2.88 | 55 data points |
| Natural gas (1m³) | $0.81 | 53 data points |
| Waste collection (monthly) | $13.2 | 59 data points |
| Fitness club (monthly) | $49.5 | 48 data points |
| Cinema ticket (1 seat) | $8.96 | 45 data points |
| Men's haircut | $20.7 | 46 data points |
| Domestic cleaning (1 hour) | $15.8 | 6 data points |
| Private kindergarten (monthly) | $1,193 | 10 data points |
Price data as of 2026-07-01 · Exchange rates as of 2026-07-15