Cost of living
Beijing compared to Shanghai
🏛️
Overview comparison
BeijingShanghai
Consumer prices in Beijing are roughly 5% higher than in Shanghai.
Cost of living
| Item | Beijing | Shanghai |
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| Total with rent one person | 596 | 770 |
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| Total with rent family | 1,570 | 2,050 |
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| Without rent one person | 355 | 329 |
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| Without rent one family | 1,409 | 1,418 |
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| Rent & Utilities person | 244.66 | 331.58 |
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| Rent & Utilities family | 457.89 | 521.17 |
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| Food person | 253 | 239 |
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| Food family | 513 | 659 |
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| Transport person | 74.61 | 94.65 |
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| Transport family | 240.8 | 260.49 |
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| Life expectancy | 75.12 years | 74.17 years |
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Eating Out
| Item | Beijing | Shanghai |
|---|
| Lunch Menu | 3.69 | 3.59 |
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| Dinner in a Restaurant, for 2 | 16.76 | 15.37 |
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| Fast food meal, equiv. McDonald's | 6 | 4.91 |
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| Beer in a Pub, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz | 1.77 | 1.57 |
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| Cappuccino | 3.71 | 3.04 |
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| Pepsi / Coke, 0.5 L or 16.9 fl oz | 0.44 | 0.41 |
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Rent & Utilities
| Item | Beijing | Shanghai |
|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment in city Center, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 408.37 | 419.09 |
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| Cheap 1 bedroom apartment, 40 m2 or 430 ft2 | 232.75 | 256.64 |
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| 3 bedroom apartment in city Center, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 783.37 | 649.81 |
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| Cheap 3 bedroom apartment, 80 m2 or 860 ft2 | 321.22 | 310.09 |
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| Utility Bill one person, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 41.22 | 40.99 |
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| Utility Bill for a Family, electricity, heating, water, etc. | 56.33 | 65.08 |
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| Internet plan, 25 Mbps+ 1 month unlimited | 16.46 | 12.46 |
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Transportation
| Item | Beijing | Shanghai |
|---|
| Local transport ticket | 3.72 | 5.14 |
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| Monthly ticket local transport | 3,217 | 4,107 |
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| Taxi Ride, 8 km or 5 mi | 2,155 | 2,405 |
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| Gas / Petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal | 0.46 | 0.53 |
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| Mortgage Interest Rate for 20 Years | 29.94% | 25.02% |
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| Apartment price to Buy in city Center, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 3.07 | 4.15 |
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| House price to Buy in Suburbs, 1 m2 or 10 ft2 | 1.29 | 1.26 |
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Groceries
| Item | Beijing | Shanghai |
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| Milk, 1 L or 1 qt | 1.68 | 1.47 |
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| Bread, 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb | 1.48 | 1.08 |
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| Eggs, x12 | 1.64 | 1.44 |
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| Cheese, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 14.34 | 12.08 |
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| Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 3.48 | 3.7 |
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| Round Steak, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 11.02 | 10.87 |
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| Banana, 1 kg or 2.2 lb | 1.1 | 1.29 |
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| Water, 1 L or 1 qt | 0.33 | 0.3 |
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Other
| Item | Beijing | Shanghai |
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| Gym Membership, 1 month | 33.81 | 40.92 |
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| Cinema Ticket, 1 person | 6.99 | 5.65 |
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| Doctors visit | 30.5 | 27.28 |
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| Haircut, simple | 3.19 | 2.65 |
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| Brand Jeans | 70.7 | 83.87 |
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| Brand Sneakers | 82.72 | 82.14 |
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| Daycare or Preschool, 1 month | 370.72 | 288.09 |
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| International Primary School, 1 year | 10,206 | 7,169 |
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