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¥30.06
|
$4.17
CN¥30.06
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.50
CN¥39.60
|
$5.57
CN¥40.07
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.51
CN¥3.70
|
$0.50
CN¥3.57
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.32
CN¥2.27
|
$0.31
CN¥2.23
|
|
pay 9.4% less for groceries
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.01
CN¥14.44
|
$1.43
CN¥10.33
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.94
CN¥57.17
|
$7.31
CN¥52.61
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$8.61
CN¥61.96
|
$7.17
CN¥51.62
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.69
CN¥12.14
|
$1.74
CN¥12.51
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.52
CN¥10.93
|
$1.53
CN¥11.02
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.03
CN¥7.40
|
$0.92
CN¥6.60
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.73
CN¥5.29
|
$0.71
CN¥5.12
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.92
CN¥6.64
|
$0.89
CN¥6.39
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.74
CN¥5.34
|
$0.58
CN¥4.20
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.43
CN¥3.08
|
$0.37
CN¥2.65
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.48
CN¥3.44
|
$0.47
CN¥3.39
|
|
pay 5.6% less for transportation
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.40
CN¥31.67
|
$4.36
CN¥31.39
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$34.79
CN¥250.46
|
$33.40
CN¥240.44
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,844.35
CN¥150,075.15
|
$20,872.18
CN¥150,275.51
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$5.57
CN¥40.07
|
$4.59
CN¥33.06
|
|
pay 8.9% less for housing
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$16.44
CN¥118.39
|
$13.28
CN¥95.64
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,017.22
CN¥7,323.77
|
$929.88
CN¥6,694.94
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$526.38
CN¥3,789.81
|
$492.44
CN¥3,545.49
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$42.67
CN¥307.18
|
$42.04
CN¥302.68
|
|
pay 28.9% less for childcare
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,147.00
CN¥8,258.20
|
$763.49
CN¥5,497.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,296.28
CN¥218,127.18
|
$22,913.01
CN¥164,969.12
|
|
pay 0.2% less for entertainment and sports
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.39
CN¥10.02
|
$1.11
CN¥8.01
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.53
CN¥25.40
|
$3.60
CN¥25.94
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.48
CN¥25.05
|
$3.48
CN¥25.05
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.86
CN¥402.21
|
$65.46
CN¥471.27
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.35
CN¥60.11
|
$8.35
CN¥60.11
|
|
pay 2.6% more for clothing
|
Shanghai
|
Beijing
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$59.36
CN¥427.39
|
$62.65
CN¥451.10
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.88
CN¥279.90
|
$34.69
CN¥249.74
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$77.91
CN¥560.96
|
$83.45
CN¥600.85
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$99.07
CN¥713.27
|
$107.64
CN¥774.96
|
|
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