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Chengdu vs Shanghai cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇨🇳 Chengdu
🇨🇳 ShanghaiChengdu is 65% cheaper than Shanghai
Living on $1,909 a month in Chengdu feels like about $3,566 in Shanghai — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$103 vs $147
Per month
$1,909 vs $3,566
Local meal
¥ 25 vs ¥ 36
$3.52 vs $5.07
Taxi 5 km
¥ 25 vs ¥ 28
$3.52 vs $3.94
At a glance
FoodChengdu 30% cheaper
Cafés & drinksChengdu 21% cheaper
TransportChengdu 22% cheaper
StayChengdu 45% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Chengdu is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (54%↓), Transit (43%↓), Bottled water (33%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chengdu | Shanghai | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ¥ 25$3.52 | ¥ 36$5.07 | Chengdu −31% |
| Street food1 item | ¥ 11$1.55 | ¥ 16$2.25 | Chengdu −31% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ¥ 99$13.9 | ¥ 140$19.7 | Chengdu −29% |
| Coffeeone cup | ¥ 25$3.52 | ¥ 28$3.94 | Chengdu −11% |
| Beerone bottle | ¥ 21$2.96 | ¥ 28$3.94 | Chengdu −25% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ¥ 55$7.75 | ¥ 73$10.3 | Chengdu −25% |
| Bottled water | ¥ 3$0.42 | ¥ 4.5$0.63 | Chengdu −33% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ¥ 7.5$1.06 | ¥ 11$1.55 | Chengdu −32% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ¥ 25$3.52 | ¥ 28$3.94 | Chengdu −11% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ¥ 21$2.96 | ¥ 21$2.96 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ¥ 2$0.28 | ¥ 3.5$0.49 | Chengdu −43% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ¥ 85$12 | ¥ 85$12 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ¥ 430$60.6 | ¥ 640$90.1 | Chengdu −33% |
| Studio rent (month) | ¥ 3,900$549 | ¥ 8,500$1,197 | Chengdu −54% |
| Laundry | ¥ 14$1.97 | ¥ 14$1.97 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ¥ 71$10 | ¥ 71$10 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ¥ 88$12.4 | ¥ 88$12.4 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ¥ 250$35.2 | ¥ 250$35.2 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ¥ 280$39.4 | ¥ 280$39.4 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ¥ 85$12 | ¥ 85$12 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chengdu or Shanghai?
Chengdu is 65% cheaper than Shanghai. Daily budget $103 vs $147; a month $1,909 vs $3,566.
How do monthly costs compare between Chengdu and Shanghai?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chengdu is about $1,909 and Shanghai about $3,566 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.