Cost of Living in Qingdao vs Shanghai

Cost of living in Qingdao is 25% lower than in Shanghai (without rent).

Rent in Qingdao is 54% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Cost of living including rent in Qingdao is 40% lower than in Shanghai.

Food in Qingdao is 18% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Transport in Qingdao is 32% cheaper than in Shanghai.

Qingdao vs. Shanghai Comparision

Qingdao Shanghai
Cost of Living, including rent
681 $
1,136 $
Without Rent
403 $
535 $
Rent & Utilities
279 $
602 $
Food
241 $
293 $
Transport
79 $
116 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
882 $
1,905 $
Quality of Life
68
79
Population
10.1M
24.9M

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Qingdao Shanghai

Restaurants

Lunch menu,
inexpensive restaurant
3.39 $ 3.99 $
Dinner, for 2 21.4 $ 42.8 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 4.67 $ 5.51 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 0.86 $ 1.43 $
Capuccino 3.32 $ 3.61 $
Coke, 330ml 0.58 $ 0.53 $

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.89 $ 2.41 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 1.79 $ 1.99 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.97 $ 1.41 $
Eggs, 12 pack 1.82 $ 2.11 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.5 $ 15.8 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.18 $ 3.46 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 12 $ 11.4 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.33 $ 2.33 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.23 $ 1.64 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.02 $ 2.05 $
Potatoes, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.71 $ 0.98 $
Onions, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.06 $ 1.07 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 0.35 $ 0.37 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 1.06 $ 1.32 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.2 $ 11.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 0.83 $ 0.86 $
Cigarette pack 3.99 $ 3.51 $

Transport

Local transport ticket, One-way Ticket 0.43 $ 0.57 $
Monthly pass, Monthly Ticket 17.1 $ 36.1 $
Gas or petrol, 1 L or 0.26 gal 1.23 $ 1.19 $
Taxi, 8 km 4.55 $ 6.13 $

Personal Care

Doctor visit, private clinic 13.1 $ 90.7 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 4.27 $ 6.62 $
Hair shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz 5.61 $ 7.04 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 1.17 $ 1.72 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.49 $ 2.03 $

Utilities per Month

Utility bill - 1 person,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
37.7 $ 36.3 $
Utility bill - family,
electricity, heating, water & garbage
57.6 $ 56.1 $
Internet plan,
+60 Mbps
11.8 $ 16.9 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 207 $ 461 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 530 $ 1,181 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 318 $ 897 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 858 $ 2,549 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 4,837 $ 16,156 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,735 $ 8,893 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 882 $ 1,905 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 4.73 % 4.28 %

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 33.6 $ 55 $
Cinema, 1 seat 7.2 $ 8.47 $
Haircut 3.94 $ 11.9 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 90.3 $ 78.6 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 78.4 $ 58.2 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 559 $ 1,263 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 20,362 $ 31,401 $