Cost of Living in Kunming vs Shanghai

Cost of living in Kunming is 17% lower than in Shanghai (without rent).

Rent in Kunming is 69% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Cost of living including rent in Kunming is 44% lower than in Shanghai.

Food in Kunming is 14% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Transport in Kunming is 14% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Kunming vs. Shanghai Comparision

Kunming Shanghai
Cost of Living, including rent
631 $
1,136 $
Without Rent
442 $
535 $
Rent & Utilities
189 $
602 $
Food
253 $
293 $
Transport
100 $
116 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
821 $
1,905 $
Quality of Life
69
79
Population
8.5M
24.9M

Compare other cities?

Kunming Shanghai

Restaurants

Lunch menu,
inexpensive restaurant
2.52 $ 3.99 $
Dinner, for 2 28.4 $ 42.8 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 6.46 $ 5.51 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.44 $ 1.43 $
Capuccino 3.45 $ 3.61 $
Coke, 330ml 0.44 $ 0.53 $

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 2.41 $ 2.41 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 2.34 $ 1.99 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.44 $ 1.41 $
Eggs, 12 pack 2.01 $ 2.11 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 7.11 $ 15.8 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.25 $ 3.46 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.1 $ 11.4 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.63 $ 2.33 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.07 $ 1.64 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.28 $ 2.05 $
Potatoes, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.38 $ 0.98 $
Onions, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.67 $ 1.07 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 0.38 $ 0.37 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 1.05 $ 1.32 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.4 $ 11.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 0.71 $ 0.86 $
Cigarette pack 3.59 $ 3.51 $

Transport

Local transport ticket, One-way Ticket 0.57 $ 0.57 $
Monthly pass, Monthly Ticket 35.9 $ 36.1 $
Gas or petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal 1.21 $ 1.19 $
Taxi, 8 km 3.44 $ 6.13 $

Personal Care

Doctor visit, private clinic 20.9 $ 90.7 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 5.13 $ 6.62 $
Hair shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz 4.73 $ 7.04 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 2.18 $ 1.72 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.5 $ 2.03 $

Utilities per Month

Utility bill - 1 person,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
31 $ 36.3 $
Utility bill - family,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
47.9 $ 56.1 $
Internet plan,
+60 Mbps
17.7 $ 16.9 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 128 $ 461 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 356 $ 1,181 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 191 $ 897 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 496 $ 2,549 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 5,414 $ 16,156 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,689 $ 8,893 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 821 $ 1,905 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 4.97 % 4.28 %

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 60.6 $ 55 $
Cinema, 1 seat 6.42 $ 8.47 $
Haircut 3.25 $ 11.9 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 83.4 $ 78.6 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 85 $ 58.2 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 622 $ 1,263 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 17,066 $ 31,401 $