ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Shanghai and Montpellier 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
| Metric | Shanghai | Montpellier | Shanghai vs Montpellier |
| 💰 Average monthly net salary | ¥11,735 | ¥18,980 | Montpellier earns 1.6× the salary in Shanghai |
Daily expenses
| Metric | Shanghai | Montpellier | Shanghai vs Montpellier |
|---|
| 🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant | ¥30 | ¥124 | Montpellier costs 4.15× the price in Shanghai |
| 🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses) | ¥200 | ¥467 | Montpellier costs 2.33× the price in Shanghai |
| 🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent) | ¥35 | ¥93 | Montpellier costs 2.67× the price in Shanghai |
| 💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly) | ¥429.8 | ¥1,398.9 | Montpellier costs 3.25× the price in Shanghai |
| 💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly) | ¥76.5 | ¥235.7 | Montpellier costs 3.08× the price in Shanghai |
| 📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly) | ¥52.7 | ¥130.2 | Montpellier costs 2.47× the price in Shanghai |
| 💪 Gym membership (monthly) | ¥462.0 | ¥237.7 | Shanghai costs 1.94× the price in Montpellier |
| 🎬 Cinema ticket, international release | ¥60.0 | ¥101.1 | Montpellier costs 1.68× the price in Shanghai |
| ⛽ Petrol (1 litre) | ¥8.6 | ¥14.0 | Montpellier costs 1.63× the price in Shanghai |
Supermarket prices
| Metric | Shanghai | Montpellier | Shanghai vs Montpellier |
|---|
| 🥩 Beef round (1 kg) | ¥88.8 | ¥176.9 | Montpellier costs 1.99× the price in Shanghai |
| 🥚 Eggs (12) | ¥12.3 | ¥28.3 | Montpellier costs 2.29× the price in Shanghai |
| 🥛 Milk (1 litre) | ¥13.6 | ¥9.7 | Shanghai costs 1.39× the price in Montpellier |
| 🍞 Bread (500 g) | ¥13.0 | ¥15.7 | Montpellier costs 1.21× the price in Shanghai |
| 🍏 Apples (1 kg) | ¥15.5 | ¥19.0 | Montpellier costs 1.23× the price in Shanghai |
| 🥔 Potatoes (1 kg) | ¥5.6 | ¥15.6 | Montpellier costs 2.80× the price in Shanghai |
| 🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg) | ¥12.0 | ¥24.0 | Montpellier costs 2.00× the price in Shanghai |
| 🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml) | ¥6.1 | ¥24.2 | Montpellier costs 3.98× the price in Shanghai |
| 🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle | ¥77.5 | ¥54.4 | Shanghai costs 1.42× the price in Montpellier |
Rent & property prices
| Metric | Shanghai | Montpellier | Shanghai vs Montpellier |
|---|
| 🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly) | ¥6,371 | ¥6,250 | Shanghai costs 1.02× the price in Montpellier |
| 🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly) | ¥3,832 | ¥5,131 | Montpellier costs 1.34× the price in Shanghai |
| 🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly) | ¥16,000 | ¥10,630 | Shanghai costs 1.51× the price in Montpellier |
| 🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly) | ¥8,594 | ¥8,148 | Shanghai costs 1.05× the price in Montpellier |
| 🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre | ¥93,933 | ¥35,045 | Shanghai costs 2.68× the price in Montpellier |
| 🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre | ¥44,760 | ¥27,168 | Shanghai costs 1.65× the price in Montpellier |