Cost of Living Comparison Between Beijing and Shanghai 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Consumer Prices in Shanghai are 11.5% higher than in Beijing (without rent)
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Shanghai are 13.8% higher than in Beijing
Rent Prices in Shanghai are 17.4% higher than in Beijing
Restaurant Prices in Shanghai are 12.8% higher than in Beijing
Groceries Prices in Shanghai are 19.2% higher than in Beijing
Local Purchasing Power in Shanghai is 22.4% lower than in Beijing
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 6.36 A$
(30.00 ¥)
7.42 A$
(35.00 ¥)
     +16.7 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 42.38 A$
(200.00 ¥)
52.98 A$
(250.00 ¥)
     +25.0 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 8.48 A$
(40.00 ¥)
8.48 A$
(40.00 ¥)
     0.0 %
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 2.12 A$
(10.00 ¥)
2.12 A$
(10.00 ¥)
     0.0 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 4.24 A$
(20.00 ¥)
4.24 A$
(20.00 ¥)
     0.0 %
Cappuccino (regular) 5.67 A$
(26.74 ¥)
5.66 A$
(26.69 ¥)
     -0.2 %
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 0.75 A$
(3.54 ¥)
0.82 A$
(3.88 ¥)
     +9.8 %
Water (12 oz small bottle) 0.47 A$
(2.21 ¥)
0.51 A$
(2.39 ¥)
     +7.9 %
Markets
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 11.47 A$
(54.14 ¥)
13.80 A$
(65.13 ¥)
     +20.3 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 2.08 A$
(9.80 ¥)
2.71 A$
(12.77 ¥)
     +30.3 %
Rice (white), (1 lb) 0.76 A$
(3.56 ¥)
0.77 A$
(3.62 ¥)
     +1.6 %
Eggs (regular) (12) 2.70 A$
(12.74 ¥)
2.76 A$
(13.02 ¥)
     +2.2 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 9.37 A$
(44.20 ¥)
13.13 A$
(61.97 ¥)
     +40.2 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 2.22 A$
(10.47 ¥)
2.60 A$
(12.28 ¥)
     +17.4 %
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 7.18 A$
(33.89 ¥)
8.94 A$
(42.17 ¥)
     +24.4 %
Apples (1 lb) 1.41 A$
(6.67 ¥)
1.54 A$
(7.29 ¥)
     +9.2 %
Banana (1 lb) 1.19 A$
(5.62 ¥)
1.15 A$
(5.43 ¥)
     -3.4 %
Oranges (1 lb) 1.32 A$
(6.21 ¥)
1.36 A$
(6.44 ¥)
     +3.6 %
Tomato (1 lb) 0.87 A$
(4.08 ¥)
1.04 A$
(4.89 ¥)
     +19.7 %
Potato (1 lb) 0.58 A$
(2.72 ¥)
0.66 A$
(3.13 ¥)
     +15.1 %
Onion (1 lb) 0.70 A$
(3.31 ¥)
0.75 A$
(3.55 ¥)
     +7.2 %
Lettuce (1 head) 1.29 A$
(6.08 ¥)
1.36 A$
(6.42 ¥)
     +5.6 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 0.76 A$
(3.58 ¥)
0.87 A$
(4.12 ¥)
     +15.2 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 15.36 A$
(72.50 ¥)
21.19 A$
(100.00 ¥)
     +37.9 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 1.34 A$
(6.32 ¥)
1.29 A$
(6.08 ¥)
     -3.7 %
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 2.93 A$
(13.83 ¥)
2.81 A$
(13.27 ¥)
     -4.1 %
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 5.51 A$
(26.00 ¥)
5.30 A$
(25.00 ¥)
     -3.8 %
Transportation
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 1.06 A$
(5.00 ¥)
0.85 A$
(4.00 ¥)
     -20.0 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 52.98 A$
(250.00 ¥)
52.98 A$
(250.00 ¥)
     0.0 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 2.75 A$
(13.00 ¥)
3.39 A$
(16.00 ¥)
     +23.1 %
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 0.89 A$
(4.18 ¥)
1.02 A$
(4.83 ¥)
     +15.4 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 19.07 A$
(90.00 ¥)
12.72 A$
(60.00 ¥)
     -33.3 %
Gasoline (1 gallon) 6.66 A$
(31.44 ¥)
6.81 A$
(32.16 ¥)
     +2.3 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 32,635.31 A$
(154,000.00 ¥)
31,787.64 A$
(150,000.00 ¥)
     -2.6 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 30,914.37 A$
(145,879.17 ¥)
27,906.52 A$
(131,685.71 ¥)
     -9.7 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 84.38 A$
(398.18 ¥)
95.53 A$
(450.80 ¥)
     +13.2 %
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 15.11 A$
(71.32 ¥)
20.52 A$
(96.82 ¥)
     +35.8 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 21.00 A$
(99.11 ¥)
28.29 A$
(133.47 ¥)
     +34.7 %
Sports And Leisure
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 95.12 A$
(448.83 ¥)
122.01 A$
(575.76 ¥)
     +28.3 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 43.09 A$
(203.33 ¥)
27.16 A$
(128.18 ¥)
     -37.0 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 12.72 A$
(60.00 ¥)
12.72 A$
(60.00 ¥)
     0.0 %
Childcare
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 1,371.39 A$
(6,471.34 ¥)
1,873.28 A$
(8,839.68 ¥)
     +36.6 %
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 41,709.24 A$
(196,818.18 ¥)
43,157.84 A$
(203,653.85 ¥)
     +3.5 %
Clothing And Shoes
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 100.98 A$
(476.52 ¥)
96.82 A$
(456.88 ¥)
     -4.1 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 54.85 A$
(258.84 ¥)
56.69 A$
(267.50 ¥)
     +3.3 %
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 132.03 A$
(623.04 ¥)
113.37 A$
(534.96 ¥)
     -14.1 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 172.27 A$
(812.91 ¥)
167.59 A$
(790.83 ¥)
     -2.7 %
Rent Per Month
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 1,462.23 A$
(6,900.00 ¥)
1,572.43 A$
(7,420.00 ¥)
     +7.5 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 830.11 A$
(3,917.11 ¥)
777.40 A$
(3,668.42 ¥)
     -6.3 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 3,399.16 A$
(16,040.00 ¥)
4,321.28 A$
(20,391.30 ¥)
     +27.1 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 1,776.85 A$
(8,384.62 ¥)
2,099.31 A$
(9,906.25 ¥)
     +18.1 %
Buy Apartment Price
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 2,011.07 A$
(9,489.87 ¥)
2,462.87 A$
(11,621.81 ¥)
     +22.5 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 1,113.76 A$
(5,255.63 ¥)
1,317.36 A$
(6,216.37 ¥)
     +18.3 %
Salaries And Financing
Beijing Edit Shanghai Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 2,557.85 A$
(12,070.00 ¥)
2,256.55 A$
(10,648.25 ¥)
     -11.8 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 4.36 4.75      +8.9 %
Last update: March 2024March 2024
Contributors in the past 12 months:228242