Cost of Living & Income: Shanghai vs Dubai

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Shanghai and Dubai are averages compiled from millions of user-contributed income and living-cost entries worldwide over the last 12 months (updated July 2026), converted to Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥). Green 🟢 marks a higher income or a lower price. Source: NUMBEO, which is widely cited by international media; the Seapoe team compiled, translated and processed the data.

Income comparison

MetricShanghaiDubaiShanghai vs Dubai
💰 Average monthly net salary¥11,735¥23,043Dubai earns 2.0× the salary in Shanghai

Daily expenses

MetricShanghaiDubaiShanghai vs Dubai
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥30¥83Dubai costs 2.76× the price in Shanghai
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥551Dubai costs 2.76× the price in Shanghai
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥64Dubai costs 1.84× the price in Shanghai
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥429.8¥1,600.0Dubai costs 3.72× the price in Shanghai
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥76.5¥636.8Dubai costs 8.33× the price in Shanghai
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥52.7¥368.7Dubai costs 7.00× the price in Shanghai
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥462.0¥605.2Dubai costs 1.31× the price in Shanghai
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥60.0¥110.3Dubai costs 1.84× the price in Shanghai
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.6¥6.1Shanghai costs 1.40× the price in Dubai

Supermarket prices

MetricShanghaiDubaiShanghai vs Dubai
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥88.8¥86.2Shanghai costs 1.03× the price in Dubai
🥚 Eggs (12)¥12.3¥23.5Dubai costs 1.90× the price in Shanghai
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥13.6¥12.3Shanghai costs 1.11× the price in Dubai
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥13.0¥10.0Shanghai costs 1.30× the price in Dubai
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥15.5¥17.8Dubai costs 1.15× the price in Shanghai
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥5.6¥7.2Dubai costs 1.29× the price in Shanghai
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥12.0¥9.7Shanghai costs 1.23× the price in Dubai
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.1¥18.8Dubai costs 3.09× the price in Shanghai
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥77.5¥110.3Dubai costs 1.42× the price in Shanghai

Rent & property prices

MetricShanghaiDubaiShanghai vs Dubai
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥6,371¥16,491Dubai costs 2.59× the price in Shanghai
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,832¥10,109Dubai costs 2.64× the price in Shanghai
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥16,000¥30,464Dubai costs 1.90× the price in Shanghai
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥8,594¥20,045Dubai costs 2.33× the price in Shanghai
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥93,933¥47,106Shanghai costs 1.99× the price in Dubai
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥44,760¥27,037Shanghai costs 1.66× the price in Dubai