China
China's dazzling financial hub where the futuristic Pudong skyline meets the colonial charm of the Bund. A fast-paced, cosmopolitan city with incredible cuisine.
#130 of 250
24% below average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 1 114
Based on NYC = 100 index
Total does not include Basic Grocery Basket & Healthcare — no scraped prices there (N/A)
Shanghai is the 130. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 1 114 for one adult.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is restaurants, 51% below the median: mcmeal at mcdonalds $ 6, cappuccino $ 5. You also get off lightly on entertainment, clothing.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
5 prices on this page come from live scrapers (4 sources, observed October 7, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Shanghai, China. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/shanghai. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (city-wide) | 794.14 / month | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Asian property portals (per-listing) |
| 3BR Apartment (city-wide) | 1,071.90 / month | 1 | 2026-10-07 | Asian property portals (per-listing) |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.28 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 44.80 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Gym Chains |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 125.30 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Nike.com (live) |
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Monthly average costs by category
$ 794
per month
N/A
$ 116
per month
$ 46
per month
$ 94
per month
$ 45
per month
N/A
$ 19
per month