Shanghai is the most expensive of China's 11 priced cities — $892 a month in essentials, 110% above Chongqing at $425. The average net salary of $1,711 covers that 1.9×. 114.5 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at prefecture level.
Monthly cost breakdown
Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.
| Item | Monthly USD |
|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bed outside centre | $575 |
| Rent, 1-bed city centre | $951 |
| Groceries | $101 |
| Dining out | $111 |
| Utilities | $75 |
| Local transport | $30 |
| Essentials / mo | $892 |
| Avg net salary | $1,711 |
| Rent, 3-bed outside centre | $1,267 |
| Rent, 3-bed city centre | $2,406 |
Single person, USD. Data updated July 29, 2026.
Everyday prices
What single items cost in Shanghai, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.
Eating out
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | $4.43 |
| Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses | $29.56 |
| McMeal at McDonald's | $5.17 |
| Cappuccino, regular | $3.19 |
| Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught | $1.18 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle | $2.22 |
| Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L | $0.56 |
| Water, 0.33 L bottle | $0.34 |
Groceries
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Milk, 1 L | $1.98 |
| White bread, 500 g | $2.04 |
| White rice, 1 kg | $0.97 |
| Eggs, 12 | $1.91 |
| Local cheese, 1 kg | $15.79 |
| Chicken fillets, 1 kg | $3.27 |
| Apples, 1 kg | $2.29 |
| Bananas, 1 kg | $1.77 |
| Tomatoes, 1 kg | $1.77 |
| Potatoes, 1 kg | $0.82 |
| Onions, 1 kg | $0.96 |
| Water, 1.5 L bottle | $0.69 |
Transport & bills
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| One-way ticket, local transport | $0.59 |
| Monthly transit pass | $29.56 |
| Taxi start | $2.22 |
| Taxi, 1 km | $0.44 |
| Gasoline, 1 L | $1.26 |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² flat | $63.52 |
| Internet, 60 Mbps+ | $11.30 |
| Mobile plan, monthly | $9.00 |
Leisure
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Gym, monthly | $74.49 |
| Cinema, one seat | $8.87 |
Dating-age sex ratio
Shanghai has 114.5 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (prefecture level). That is the 6th-highest of 12 China cities we track. China's national figure is 112.8, so Shanghai runs 2 above the country as a whole.
A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.
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