Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Shanghai 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Shanghai is 61.1% lower than in New York, NY (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Shanghai is 68.0% lower than in New York, NY | |
| Rent Prices in Shanghai are 76.6% lower than in New York, NY | |
| Restaurant Prices in Shanghai are 74.3% lower than in New York, NY | |
| Groceries Prices in Shanghai are 62.6% lower than in New York, NY | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Shanghai is 8.9% lower than in New York, NY | |
Restaurants | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
25.00 $ (176.36 ¥) |
4.25 $ (30.00 ¥) |
-83.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
140.00 $ (987.63 ¥) |
28.35 $ (200.00 ¥) |
-79.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
14.00 $ (98.76 ¥) |
5.67 $ (40.00 ¥) |
-59.5 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
8.00 $ (56.44 ¥) |
1.28 $ (9.00 ¥) |
-84.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
10.00 $ (70.55 ¥) |
2.55 $ (18.00 ¥) |
-74.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5.63 $ (39.71 ¥) |
3.17 $ (22.37 ¥) |
-43.7 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.17 $ (22.37 ¥) |
0.53 $ (3.71 ¥) |
-83.4 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.55 $ (17.95 ¥) |
0.32 $ (2.25 ¥) |
-87.5 % |
Markets | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.54 $ (10.88 ¥) |
2.03 $ (14.35 ¥) |
+31.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4.42 $ (31.20 ¥) |
1.57 $ (11.04 ¥) |
-64.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
3.72 $ (26.23 ¥) |
0.43 $ (3.00 ¥) |
-88.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
7.16 $ (50.50 ¥) |
1.64 $ (11.57 ¥) |
-77.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
7.79 $ (54.96 ¥) |
6.97 $ (49.18 ¥) |
-10.5 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
6.92 $ (48.82 ¥) |
1.46 $ (10.28 ¥) |
-78.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
9.27 $ (65.41 ¥) |
4.92 $ (34.70 ¥) |
-46.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
3.21 $ (22.67 ¥) |
1.03 $ (7.29 ¥) |
-67.8 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
1.13 $ (7.97 ¥) |
0.76 $ (5.33 ¥) |
-33.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.61 $ (18.43 ¥) |
0.80 $ (5.64 ¥) |
-69.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.71 $ (19.11 ¥) |
0.64 $ (4.51 ¥) |
-76.4 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.70 $ (11.98 ¥) |
0.34 $ (2.40 ¥) |
-80.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.68 $ (11.84 ¥) |
0.50 $ (3.52 ¥) |
-70.3 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
3.12 $ (22.02 ¥) |
0.57 $ (4.00 ¥) |
-81.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.64 $ (18.62 ¥) |
0.66 $ (4.65 ¥) |
-75.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
18.00 $ (126.98 ¥) |
11.34 $ (80.00 ¥) |
-37.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
3.31 $ (23.37 ¥) |
0.83 $ (5.86 ¥) |
-74.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
4.34 $ (30.64 ¥) |
1.56 $ (10.98 ¥) |
-64.2 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
19.00 $ (134.04 ¥) |
3.54 $ (25.00 ¥) |
-81.3 % |
Transportation | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.90 $ (20.46 ¥) |
0.57 $ (4.00 ¥) |
-80.4 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
132.00 $ (931.19 ¥) |
28.35 $ (200.00 ¥) |
-78.5 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
3.00 $ (21.16 ¥) |
2.13 $ (15.00 ¥) |
-29.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
3.50 $ (24.69 ¥) |
0.68 $ (4.83 ¥) |
-80.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
42.00 $ (296.29 ¥) |
8.51 $ (60.00 ¥) |
-79.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
0.89 $ (6.29 ¥) |
1.11 $ (7.82 ¥) |
+24.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
35,458.00 $ (250,138.46 ¥) |
18,427.95 $ (130,000.00 ¥) |
-48.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
25,440.74 $ (179,471.70 ¥) |
17,473.13 $ (123,264.17 ¥) |
-31.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
193.29 $ (1,363.58 ¥) |
53.37 $ (376.50 ¥) |
-72.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
60.36 $ (425.79 ¥) |
8.16 $ (57.56 ¥) |
-86.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
63.12 $ (445.28 ¥) |
11.70 $ (82.57 ¥) |
-81.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
129.54 $ (913.88 ¥) |
65.12 $ (459.42 ¥) |
-49.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
47.22 $ (333.13 ¥) |
19.65 $ (138.64 ¥) |
-58.4 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
22.00 $ (155.20 ¥) |
7.09 $ (50.00 ¥) |
-67.8 % |
Childcare | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,429.54 $ (24,193.68 ¥) |
1,157.40 $ (8,164.91 ¥) |
-66.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
58,332.82 $ (411,508.90 ¥) |
26,899.41 $ (189,761.90 ¥) |
-53.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
66.67 $ (470.30 ¥) |
45.34 $ (319.86 ¥) |
-32.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
54.92 $ (387.45 ¥) |
35.55 $ (250.76 ¥) |
-35.3 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
117.04 $ (825.69 ¥) |
70.87 $ (499.96 ¥) |
-39.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
157.86 $ (1,113.60 ¥) |
106.97 $ (754.63 ¥) |
-32.2 % |
Rent Per Month | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
4,256.90 $ (30,030.28 ¥) |
895.15 $ (6,314.81 ¥) |
-79.0 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,486.46 $ (17,540.72 ¥) |
541.60 $ (3,820.69 ¥) |
-78.2 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
8,410.42 $ (59,331.28 ¥) |
2,152.55 $ (15,185.19 ¥) |
-74.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
4,919.57 $ (34,705.07 ¥) |
1,114.18 $ (7,860.00 ¥) |
-77.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,816.35 $ (12,813.47 ¥) |
1,332.44 $ (9,399.72 ¥) |
-26.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
689.16 $ (4,861.67 ¥) |
680.03 $ (4,797.30 ¥) |
-1.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | New York, NY Edit |
Shanghai Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
5,414.47 $ (38,196.37 ¥) |
1,578.19 $ (11,133.33 ¥) |
-70.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.42 | 3.38 | -47.3 % |
| Last update: | 13 December 2025 | 10 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 370 | 240 |
Moving to New York, NY? Explore:
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Cities near New York, NY: | Cost of Living in Jersey City, New Jersey | 4.58 miles |
| Cost of Living in East Rutherford, New Jersey | 10.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rutherford, New Jersey | 10.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Newark, New Jersey | 11.63 miles |
| Cost of Living in Paterson, New Jersey | 17.95 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bergen County, New Jersey | 20.13 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hempstead, New York | 22.26 miles |
| Cost of Living in West Caldwell, New Jersey | 23.56 miles |
| Cost of Living in Woodbridge, New Jersey | 25.26 miles |
| Cost of Living in Glen Cove, New York | 30.15 miles |
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 |