Cost of living comparison
Beijing is 7.4% cheaper than Shanghai.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.4% less in Beijing
- Groceries
-
pay 9.4% less in Beijing
- Transportation
-
pay 5.6% less in Beijing
- Housing
-
pay 8.9% less in Beijing
- Childcare
-
pay 28.9% less in Beijing
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 0.2% less in Beijing
- Clothing
-
pay 2.6% more in Beijing
Expenses including childcare, groceries, housing, transportation, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are lower in Beijing.
If you lived in Beijing instead of Shanghai, you would:
pay 1.4% less for restaurants
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.17
CN¥29.98
|
$4.17
CN¥29.98
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.50
CN¥39.50
|
$5.57
CN¥39.97
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.51
CN¥3.69
|
$0.50
CN¥3.56
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.32
CN¥2.27
|
$0.31
CN¥2.22
|
|
pay 9.4% less for groceries
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.01
CN¥14.40
|
$1.43
CN¥10.30
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.94
CN¥57.03
|
$7.31
CN¥52.48
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$8.61
CN¥61.81
|
$7.17
CN¥51.49
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.69
CN¥12.11
|
$1.74
CN¥12.48
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.52
CN¥10.91
|
$1.53
CN¥10.99
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.03
CN¥7.38
|
$0.92
CN¥6.59
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
CN¥5.27
|
$0.71
CN¥5.11
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.92
CN¥6.63
|
$0.89
CN¥6.37
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.74
CN¥5.33
|
$0.58
CN¥4.18
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.43
CN¥3.07
|
$0.37
CN¥2.65
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.48
CN¥3.43
|
$0.47
CN¥3.38
|
|
pay 5.6% less for transportation
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.40
CN¥31.59
|
$4.36
CN¥31.31
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$34.79
CN¥249.83
|
$33.40
CN¥239.83
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,844.35
CN¥149,695.78
|
$20,872.18
CN¥149,895.64
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$5.57
CN¥39.97
|
$4.59
CN¥32.98
|
|
pay 8.9% less for housing
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$16.44
CN¥118.10
|
$13.28
CN¥95.40
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,017.22
CN¥7,305.26
|
$929.88
CN¥6,678.01
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$526.38
CN¥3,780.23
|
$492.44
CN¥3,536.52
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$42.67
CN¥306.41
|
$42.04
CN¥301.92
|
|
pay 28.9% less for childcare
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,147.00
CN¥8,237.32
|
$763.49
CN¥5,483.11
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,296.28
CN¥217,575.79
|
$22,913.01
CN¥164,552.10
|
|
pay 0.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.39
CN¥9.99
|
$1.11
CN¥7.99
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.53
CN¥25.33
|
$3.60
CN¥25.87
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.48
CN¥24.98
|
$3.48
CN¥24.98
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.86
CN¥401.20
|
$65.46
CN¥470.08
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.35
CN¥59.96
|
$8.35
CN¥59.96
|
|
pay 2.6% more for clothing
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$59.36
CN¥426.31
|
$62.65
CN¥449.96
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.88
CN¥279.20
|
$34.69
CN¥249.11
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$77.91
CN¥559.54
|
$83.45
CN¥599.33
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$99.07
CN¥711.46
|
$107.64
CN¥773.00
|
|
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