Cost Of Living in Shanghai 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Shanghai

Whether you're living in Shanghai or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Shanghai is 11,000 CNY. Expenses can range from 1,600 CNY at the minimum level to 76,000 CNY at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Shanghai is 19,000 CNY. Expenditure can range from 6,300 CNY to 100,000 CNY per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Shanghai is 25,000 CNY per month. Families spend anywhere from 8,800 CNY to 160,000 CNY.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Shanghai is 8,300 CNY. Students spend from 1,300 CNY to 55,000 CNY per month.

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Shanghai

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Shanghai

Saving Challenges in Shanghai

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Shanghai. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 15% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 19% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Shanghai

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Shanghai

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

96 CNY

680 CNY

4,500 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$94

$630

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

250 CNY

850 CNY

5,500 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35

$120

$770

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

440 CNY

1,300 CNY

8,200 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$61

$170

$1,100

Internet and cable cost

75 CNY

150 CNY

200 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$21

$28

Mobile phone bill and charges

60 CNY

100 CNY

300 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.4

$14

$42

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Shanghai ranges between 96 CNY and 4,500 CNY with average being 680 CNY, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 850 CNY with 250 CNY and 5,500 CNY being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 1,300 CNY. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 75 CNY to 200 CNY with 150 CNY being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 100 CNY but can range between 60 CNY and 300 CNY depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Shanghai is around 6.8%. This means that people pay 6.8% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.4% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Shanghai

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 32% of the people in Shanghai have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 68% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Shanghai

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 34% of the people's monthly income in Shanghai goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Shanghai pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 15% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 12% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Shanghai

10% of debtors in Shanghai confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 28% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 18% of people and personal loans rose at 40%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Shanghai.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Shanghai

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Shanghai

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Shanghai and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Shanghai

Financial goals of people in Shanghai

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Shanghai, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 38% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 8% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 12% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes70%

No30%

Based on the survey, 30% of the people living in Shanghai said that they don't have an emergency fund while 70% said that they do.

Low-cost alternatives in Shanghai

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options66%

Few low-cost options34%

Based on the survey, 66% of the people living in Shanghai have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 34% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Financial Literacy in

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy59%

We asked residents of whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 41% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 59% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 37% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 63% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance37%

Easily manages finances63%

Affordable living in Shanghai

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Shanghai?

Around 73% of surveyed residents think that living in Shanghai is affordable with proper budgeting while 27% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Typical saving choices for people in Shanghai

Where do people choose to put their savings?

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Shanghai

Rent Cost in Shanghai

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

1,400 CNY

2,100 CNY

5,700 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$200

$300

$790

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,100 CNY

3,400 CNY

8,500 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300

$470

$1,200

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,800 CNY

4,300 CNY

11,000 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390

$590

$1,600

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

3,400 CNY

5,700 CNY

15,000 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470

$790

$2,100

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

6,800 CNY

17,000 CNY

34,000 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$950

$2,400

$4,700

Townhouse monthly rent cost

5,700 CNY

8,500 CNY

24,000 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$790

$1,200

$3,400

House monthly rent cost

6,800 CNY

17,000 CNY

34,000 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$950

$2,400

$4,700

Villa monthly rent cost

8,500 CNY

21,000 CNY

34,000 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$3,000

$4,700

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Shanghai ranges between 1,400 CNY and 5,700 CNY, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2,100 CNY to 8,500 CNY. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,800 CNY and 11,000 CNY per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 3,400 CNY to 15,000 CNY. The average rent of a townhouse in Shanghai is around 8,500 CNY while house rental costs can be as high as 17,000 CNY per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 8,500 CNY to 34,000 CNY per month.

Apartment and house prices in Shanghai

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

280,000 CNY

430,000 CNY

850,000 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$39,000

$59,000

$120,000

1-bedroom apartment price

340,000 CNY

570,000 CNY

2.1M CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$47,000

$79,000

$300,000

2-bedroom apartment price

570,000 CNY

1.7M CNY

3.4M CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$79,000

$240,000

$470,000

3-bedroom apartment price

1.9M CNY

2.8M CNY

8.5M CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$260,000

$390,000

$1.2M

Townhouse price

2.4M CNY

5.7M CNY

21M CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$340,000

$790,000

$3M

House price

2.8M CNY

17M CNY

24M CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390,000

$2.4M

$3.4M

Villa price

3.4M CNY

19M CNY

28M CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$470,000

$2.6M

$3.9M

The average price of a studio apartment in Shanghai can range from 280,000 CNY to 850,000 CNY depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 340,000 CNY to 2.1M CNY. A villa can cost you 19M CNY on average with prices ranging from 3.4M CNY to 28M CNY.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Shanghai can be x119 to x230 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x119 multiples of the average monthly salary in Shanghai.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Shanghai is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 45% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

How much money can you save in Shanghai every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Shanghai manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 70% of the surveyed people in Shanghai said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 30% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Shanghai

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 11% to 34% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 19% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 5,800 CNY on average with savings ranging from 440 CNY to 58,000 CNY.

75% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 69% of couples said the same. 63% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Shanghai?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 15% to 36% of their monthly income to savings, with 24% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 4,000 CNY with 440 CNY and 27,000 CNY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 13% to 35% of their monthly income, with 22% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 6,700 CNY with 2,200 CNY and 36,000 CNY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Shanghai can save anywhere between 10% to 32% of their monthly income, with 18% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 8,900 CNY with 3,100 CNY and 58,000 CNY being the minimum and maximum respectively.

How do people spend their money in Shanghai?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Shanghai typically spend from 14% to 33% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average spend on housing is 4,900 CNY with expenditure ranging from 380 CNY to 49,000 CNY. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Shanghai ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 820 CNY with 63 CNY and 8,200 CNY being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 130 CNY to 16,000 CNY on commuting with 1,600 CNY being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Shanghai is 4,100 CNY. The cost of groceries can range between 310 CNY to 41,000 CNY. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Shanghai allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 88 CNY to 11,000 CNY with 1,100 CNY being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 50 CNY to 6,500 CNY with 650 CNY being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 980 CNY per month with 76 CNY being the minimum spent amount and 9,800 CNY being the maximum.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Shanghai

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Shanghai is 97% This means that on average, people spend around 97% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 16% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
87%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

79%

96%

Couple
92%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

83%

100%

Family
100%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

92%

110%

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Shanghai

Prices and cost of goods and services in Shanghai

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

15 CNY

30 CNY

50 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$4.2

$7

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Shanghai is approximatly 30 CNY with meal cost ranging from 15 CNY to 50 CNY. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

54 CNY

80 CNY

160 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.4

$11

$22

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 54 CNY and 160 CNY with 80 CNY being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Shanghai.

Fine dining meal for one price

110 CNY

160 CNY

640 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$22

$89

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 110 CNY to 640 CNY with the average cost being 160 CNY for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Shanghai.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

13 CNY

20 CNY

30 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.8

$4.2

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Shanghai is around 20 CNY. Price ranges between 13 CNY and 30 CNY depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

10 CNY

12 CNY

15 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$1.7

$2.1

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Shanghai is 12 CNY. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 15 CNY and the minimum being 10 CNY depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

7.5 CNY

10 CNY

15 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1

$1.4

$2.1

A dozen eggs costs around 10 CNY on average with 7.5 CNY and 15 CNY being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

17 CNY

22 CNY

31 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.4

$3.1

$4.4

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Shanghai is between 17 CNY and 31 CNY depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 22 CNY.

Pack of beef price

20 CNY

30 CNY

60 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.8

$4.2

$8.4

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 30 CNY. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

8.1 CNY

11 CNY

16 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.5

$2.2

A bag of rice in Shanghai costs around 11 CNY on average with prices rangeing between 8.1 CNY and 16 CNY depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

3 CNY

4 CNY

7.5 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.42

$0.56

$1

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 3 CNY to 7.5 CNY. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

5.4 CNY

7 CNY

12 CNY

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.75

$0.98

$1.6

A bag of apples costs 7 CNY on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Shanghai is around 30%. This means that people spend 30% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 36% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 1,800 CNY per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 260 CNY and 12,000 CNY depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 2,600 CNY per month. That number can be get as low as 880 CNY or a high as 14,000 CNY. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 1,600 CNY to 29,000 CNY with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Shanghai

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Shanghai