Cost of living comparison

 Shanghai, China
compared to
 Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo vs. Shanghai Cost of Living Summary

Tokyo is 49.6% more expensive than Shanghai.

Restaurants
pay 76.1% more in Tokyo
Groceries
pay 93.8% more in Tokyo
Transportation
pay 2.2 times more in Tokyo
Housing
pay 82.2% more in Tokyo
Childcare
pay 52.8% less in Tokyo
Entertainment and Sports
pay 42.2% more in Tokyo
Clothing
pay 12.9% less in Tokyo

The cost of transportation, groceries, housing, restaurants, and entertainment and sports in Tokyo are more expensive than in Shanghai. Expenses including childcare and clothing are lower in Tokyo. Notably, transportation, groceries, and housing are significantly more expensive in Tokyo.

Tokyo vs. Shanghai Cost Breakdown

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

pay 76.1% more for restaurants

 
Shanghai
Tokyo
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $4.17
CN¥30.32
$6.51
¥976
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.50
CN¥39.95
$5.21
¥781
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.51
CN¥3.73
$1.12
¥167

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pay 93.8% more for groceries

 
Shanghai
Tokyo
Bread
1 loaf
$2.01
CN¥14.57
$1.63
¥245
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.94
CN¥57.68
$7.01
¥1,051
Milk (1 gallon) $8.61
CN¥62.51
$5.89
¥882

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pay 2.2 times more for transportation

 
Shanghai
Tokyo
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.40
CN¥31.95
$4.42
¥663
Monthly public transit pass $34.79
CN¥252.68
$58.62
¥8,784
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $20,844.35
CN¥151,405.01
$21,767.76
¥3,261,789

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pay 82.2% more for housing

 
Shanghai
Tokyo
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$16.44
CN¥119.44
$31.86
¥4,774
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,017.22
CN¥7,388.67
$1,120.28
¥167,868
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $526.38
CN¥3,823.39
$582.98
¥87,357

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pay 52.8% less for childcare

 
Shanghai
Tokyo
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,147.00
CN¥8,331.37
$533.29
¥79,911
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $30,296.28
CN¥220,060.09
$14,506.96
¥2,173,794

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pay 42.2% more for entertainment and sports

 
Shanghai
Tokyo
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.39
CN¥10.11
$3.26
¥488
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.53
CN¥25.62
$3.40
¥510
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.48
CN¥25.27
$3.91
¥586

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pay 12.9% less for clothing

 
Shanghai
Tokyo
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$59.36
CN¥431.18
$52.60
¥7,882
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$38.88
CN¥282.38
$36.87
¥5,525
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$77.91
CN¥565.93
$63.41
¥9,502

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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: April 2025
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