Cost of living comparison

 Shanghai, China
compared to
 Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik vs. Shanghai Cost of Living Summary

Reykjavik is 2.6 times more expensive than Shanghai.

Restaurants
pay 5.3 times more in Reykjavik
Groceries
pay 2.3 times more in Reykjavik
Transportation
pay 2.6 times more in Reykjavik
Housing
pay 2.7 times more in Reykjavik
Childcare
pay 79.1% less in Reykjavik
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.2 times more in Reykjavik
Clothing
pay 75.6% more in Reykjavik

The cost of restaurants, entertainment and sports, housing, transportation, groceries, and clothing in Reykjavik are more expensive than in Shanghai. Notably, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and housing are significantly more expensive in Reykjavik.

Reykjavik vs. Shanghai Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Reykjavik instead of Shanghai, you would:

pay 5.3 times more for restaurants

 
Shanghai
Reykjavik
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $4.17
CN¥29.97
$20.00
ISK2,482
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.50
CN¥39.49
$18.02
ISK2,236
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.51
CN¥3.69
$3.15
ISK391

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pay 2.3 times more for groceries

 
Shanghai
Reykjavik
Bread
1 loaf
$2.01
CN¥14.40
$3.61
ISK448
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.94
CN¥57.01
$7.76
ISK963
Milk (1 gallon) $8.61
CN¥61.79
$6.40
ISK795

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pay 2.6 times more for transportation

 
Shanghai
Reykjavik
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.40
CN¥31.58
$8.50
ISK1,055
Monthly public transit pass $34.79
CN¥249.77
$74.95
ISK9,302
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $20,844.35
CN¥149,660.34
$42,450.45
ISK5,268,101

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pay 2.7 times more for housing

 
Shanghai
Reykjavik
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$16.44
CN¥118.07
$69.87
ISK8,670
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,017.22
CN¥7,303.53
$1,971.17
ISK244,622
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $526.38
CN¥3,779.33
$1,803.44
ISK223,807

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pay 79.1% less for childcare

 
Shanghai
Reykjavik
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,147.00
CN¥8,235.37
$252.14
ISK31,291
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $30,296.28
CN¥217,524.29
$5,993.99
ISK743,855

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pay 3.2 times more for entertainment and sports

 
Shanghai
Reykjavik
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.39
CN¥9.99
$10.81
ISK1,342
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.53
CN¥25.33
$5.31
ISK658
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.48
CN¥24.98
$12.25
ISK1,520

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pay 75.6% more for clothing

 
Shanghai
Reykjavik
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$59.36
CN¥426.21
$108.97
ISK13,523
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$38.88
CN¥279.13
$49.72
ISK6,170
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$77.91
CN¥559.41
$151.85
ISK18,845

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: June 2025
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