Cost of Living Comparison Between Shanghai and Beijing 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Beijing is 2.4% lower than in Shanghai (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Beijing is 0.4% higher than in Shanghai | |
| Rent Prices in Beijing are 6.4% higher than in Shanghai | |
| Restaurant Prices in Beijing are 7.9% lower than in Shanghai | |
| Groceries Prices in Beijing are 0.8% lower than in Shanghai | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Beijing is 5.4% lower than in Shanghai | |
Restaurants | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 30.00 ¥ | 30.00 ¥ | 0.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 200.00 ¥ | 180.00 ¥ | -10.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 40.00 ¥ | 35.00 ¥ | -12.5 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 9.00 ¥ | 7.50 ¥ | -16.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 18.00 ¥ | 15.00 ¥ | -16.7 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 21.96 ¥ | 20.51 ¥ | -6.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.78 ¥ | 4.00 ¥ | +5.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.20 ¥ | 2.26 ¥ | +2.8 % |
Markets | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 14.35 ¥ | 12.95 ¥ | -9.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 10.68 ¥ | 11.27 ¥ | +5.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 3.05 ¥ | 3.63 ¥ | +19.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 11.84 ¥ | 13.15 ¥ | +11.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 48.06 ¥ | 45.36 ¥ | -5.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 9.81 ¥ | 10.81 ¥ | +10.2 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 36.00 ¥ | 35.13 ¥ | -2.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 7.18 ¥ | 7.01 ¥ | -2.4 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 5.30 ¥ | 5.42 ¥ | +2.2 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 5.55 ¥ | 5.74 ¥ | +3.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 4.71 ¥ | 4.48 ¥ | -5.0 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 2.45 ¥ | 2.53 ¥ | +2.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 3.21 ¥ | 2.84 ¥ | -11.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 4.00 ¥ | 4.65 ¥ | +16.2 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 4.72 ¥ | 3.79 ¥ | -19.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 80.00 ¥ | 72.12 ¥ | -9.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 6.00 ¥ | 5.69 ¥ | -5.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 11.10 ¥ | 12.40 ¥ | +11.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 25.00 ¥ | 27.31 ¥ | +9.2 % |
Transportation | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 3.00 ¥ | 4.00 ¥ | +33.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 200.00 ¥ | 230.00 ¥ | +15.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 16.00 ¥ | 13.00 ¥ | -18.8 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 4.83 ¥ | 4.02 ¥ | -16.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 60.00 ¥ | 50.00 ¥ | -16.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 7.74 ¥ | 7.76 ¥ | +0.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 130,000.00 ¥ | 129,900.00 ¥ | -0.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 122,826.66 ¥ | 112,183.39 ¥ | -8.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 357.82 ¥ | 382.44 ¥ | +6.9 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 59.26 ¥ | 65.27 ¥ | +10.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 82.41 ¥ | 96.72 ¥ | +17.4 % |
Sports And Leisure | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 453.51 ¥ | 469.08 ¥ | +3.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 138.64 ¥ | 144.21 ¥ | +4.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 55.00 ¥ | 50.00 ¥ | -9.1 % |
Childcare | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 8,059.65 ¥ | 5,112.60 ¥ | -36.6 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 194,250.00 ¥ | 168,815.17 ¥ | -13.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 324.62 ¥ | 432.79 ¥ | +33.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 255.05 ¥ | 257.11 ¥ | +0.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 508.65 ¥ | 549.83 ¥ | +8.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 781.19 ¥ | 706.72 ¥ | -9.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 6,083.33 ¥ | 6,794.74 ¥ | +11.7 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 3,750.00 ¥ | 3,850.00 ¥ | +2.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 15,181.82 ¥ | 15,818.75 ¥ | +4.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 7,761.90 ¥ | 8,412.50 ¥ | +8.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 9,060.42 ¥ | 8,310.07 ¥ | -8.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 4,561.77 ¥ | 4,091.78 ¥ | -10.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | Shanghai Edit |
Beijing Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 11,188.02 ¥ | 10,633.86 ¥ | -5.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 3.36 | 3.45 | +2.6 % |
| Last update: | 7 January 2026 | 15 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 200 | 150 | |
Moving to Shanghai? Explore:
Moving to Beijing? Explore:
Cities near Shanghai: | Cost of Living in Taicang, Suzhou, Jiangsu | 32.06 miles |
| Cost of Living in Suzhou | 60.57 miles |
| Cost of Living in Jiaxing | 61.36 miles |
| Cost of Living in Changshu | 63.97 miles |
| Cost of Living in Nantong | 78.78 miles |
| Cost of Living in Zhangjiagang | 81.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Wuxi | 82.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Huzhou | 92.74 miles |
| Cost of Living in Jiangyin | 96.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Yuyao | 107.54 miles |
Cities near Beijing: | Cost of Living in Langfang | 38.75 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tianjin | 82.60 miles |
| Cost of Living in Baoding | 107.50 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tangshan | 117.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chengde | 138.17 miles |
| Cost of Living in Qinhuangdao | 188.26 miles |
| Cost of Living in Dezhou | 189.55 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ulanqab | 225.59 miles |