Cost of living comparison
Shanghai is 3.9% cheaper than Tokyo.
- Restaurants
-
pay 35.5% less in Shanghai
- Groceries
-
pay 31.1% less in Shanghai
- Transportation
-
pay 31.4% less in Shanghai
- Housing
-
pay 33.9% less in Shanghai
- Childcare
-
pay 2.1 times more in Shanghai
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 22.8% less in Shanghai
- Clothing
-
pay 15.2% more in Shanghai
The cost of childcare and clothing in Shanghai are more expensive than in Tokyo. Expenses including restaurants, housing, transportation, groceries, and entertainment and sports are lower in Shanghai. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Shanghai.
If you lived in Shanghai instead of Tokyo, you would:
pay 35.5% less for restaurants
|
Tokyo
|
Shanghai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.51
¥929
|
$4.17
CN¥29.97
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.21
¥743
|
$5.50
CN¥39.49
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.12
¥159
|
$0.51
CN¥3.69
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.75
¥106
|
$0.32
CN¥2.26
|
|
pay 31.1% less for groceries
|
Tokyo
|
Shanghai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.63
¥233
|
$2.01
CN¥14.40
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.01
¥1,000
|
$7.94
CN¥57.02
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.89
¥839
|
$8.61
CN¥61.80
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.09
¥297
|
$1.69
CN¥12.11
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.26
¥465
|
$1.52
CN¥10.90
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.38
¥339
|
$1.03
CN¥7.38
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.06
¥152
|
$0.73
CN¥5.27
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.65
¥378
|
$0.92
CN¥6.63
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.42
¥345
|
$0.74
CN¥5.33
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.29
¥184
|
$0.43
CN¥3.07
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.26
¥180
|
$0.48
CN¥3.43
|
|
pay 31.4% less for transportation
|
Tokyo
|
Shanghai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.42
¥630
|
$4.40
CN¥31.58
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$58.62
¥8,357
|
$34.79
CN¥249.79
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$21,767.76
¥3,103,104
|
$20,844.35
CN¥149,674.93
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$27.88
¥3,974
|
$5.57
CN¥39.97
|
|
pay 33.9% less for housing
|
Tokyo
|
Shanghai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$31.86
¥4,542
|
$16.44
CN¥118.08
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,120.28
¥159,701
|
$1,017.22
CN¥7,304.24
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$582.98
¥83,107
|
$526.38
CN¥3,779.70
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$134.03
¥19,107
|
$42.67
CN¥306.36
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for childcare
|
Tokyo
|
Shanghai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$533.29
¥76,024
|
$1,147.00
CN¥8,236.17
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$14,506.96
¥2,068,039
|
$30,296.28
CN¥217,545.50
|
|
pay 22.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
Tokyo
|
Shanghai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.26
¥464
|
$1.39
CN¥9.99
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.40
¥485
|
$3.53
CN¥25.33
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.91
¥557
|
$3.48
CN¥24.98
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$67.16
¥9,574
|
$55.86
CN¥401.14
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.38
¥1,764
|
$8.35
CN¥59.95
|
|
pay 15.2% more for clothing
|
Tokyo
|
Shanghai
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.60
¥7,498
|
$59.36
CN¥426.25
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$36.87
¥5,256
|
$38.88
CN¥279.16
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$63.41
¥9,040
|
$77.91
CN¥559.47
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.89
¥11,817
|
$99.07
CN¥711.37
|
|
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