5.8% above the China average
Ranked #390 of 538 cities · More expensive than 27.5% of cities worldwide
Compared to China average
Rent Prices
| Apartment | City Centre | Outside Centre | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bedroom | CNY 5,962/mo ≈ $880 | CNY 3,717/mo ≈ $549 | 38% |
| 3-Bedroom | CNY 14,818/mo ≈ $2,188 | CNY 7,714/mo ≈ $1,139 | 38% |
Shanghai has a composite cost index of 31.0 from 4 independent data sources.
Based on 65 country PLI x 1.1 city factor
Shanghai is average by global standards (ranked #390 of 538 cities). It is 5.8% more expensive than the China average, based on 12 cities.
Groceries are average, while dining out is average. Groceries offers the best value, while Rent is the priciest.
Local purchasing power is limited — residents can afford fewer goods and services than in most cities.
Workers in China earning CNY 391,310 gross take home CNY 22,628/month after tax (30.6% effective rate). See full China tax calculator →
Similar Cities
Compare cost of living with your current city, or calculate your net salary after tax.
Relocation Toolkit
Trusted services for your move
Health insurance for living abroad
Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing — medical cover designed for people working and living outside their home country. Flexible monthly subscription, cancel any time.
Get covered with SafetyWing
Secure your connection in your new city
NordVPN keeps your data safe on public Wi-Fi, lets you access content from home, and is a must-have for remote workers abroad.
Get NordVPN
We may earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you.