Cost of Living in Chengdu vs Shanghai

Cost of living in Chengdu is 24% lower than in Shanghai (without rent).

Rent in Chengdu is 58% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Cost of living including rent in Chengdu is 42% lower than in Shanghai.

Food in Chengdu is 16% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Transport in Chengdu is 25% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Chengdu vs. Shanghai Comparision

Chengdu Shanghai
Cost of Living, including rent
660 $
1,136 $
Without Rent
409 $
535 $
Rent & Utilities
251 $
602 $
Food
246 $
293 $
Transport
87 $
116 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
892 $
1,905 $
Quality of Life
72
79
Population
20.9M
24.9M

Compare other cities?

Chengdu Shanghai

Restaurants

Lunch menu,
inexpensive restaurant
2.91 $ 3.99 $
Dinner, for 2 25.5 $ 42.8 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 4.97 $ 5.51 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.42 $ 1.43 $
Capuccino 3.65 $ 3.61 $
Coke, 330ml 0.46 $ 0.53 $

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.98 $ 2.41 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 1.51 $ 1.99 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.13 $ 1.41 $
Eggs, 12 pack 1.84 $ 2.11 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.8 $ 15.8 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.24 $ 3.46 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 13 $ 11.4 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.94 $ 2.33 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.27 $ 1.64 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.74 $ 2.05 $
Potatoes, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.7 $ 0.98 $
Onions, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.81 $ 1.07 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 0.39 $ 0.37 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 1.24 $ 1.32 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 10.8 $ 11.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 0.93 $ 0.86 $
Cigarette pack 3.38 $ 3.51 $

Transport

Local transport ticket, One-way Ticket 0.43 $ 0.57 $
Monthly pass, Monthly Ticket 27.5 $ 36.1 $
Gas or petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal 1.19 $ 1.19 $
Taxi, 8 km 3.55 $ 6.13 $

Personal Care

Doctor visit, private clinic 23.1 $ 90.7 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 4.17 $ 6.62 $
Hair shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz 5.03 $ 7.04 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 1.45 $ 1.72 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.65 $ 2.03 $

Utilities per Month

Utility bill - 1 person,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
34.4 $ 36.3 $
Utility bill - family,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
52.4 $ 56.1 $
Internet plan,
+60 Mbps
12.3 $ 16.9 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 175 $ 461 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 329 $ 1,181 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 319 $ 897 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 586 $ 2,549 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 4,168 $ 16,156 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,205 $ 8,893 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 892 $ 1,905 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 4.45 % 4.28 %

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 32 $ 55 $
Cinema, 1 seat 5.65 $ 8.47 $
Haircut 6.37 $ 11.9 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 83.4 $ 78.6 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 53.6 $ 58.2 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 389 $ 1,263 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 15,153 $ 31,401 $