Cost of Living & Income: Shanghai vs Nairobi

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Shanghai and Nairobi 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

MetricShanghaiNairobiShanghai vs Nairobi
💰 Average monthly net salary¥11,735¥3,147Shanghai earns 3.7× the salary in Nairobi

Daily expenses

MetricShanghaiNairobiShanghai vs Nairobi
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥30¥37Nairobi costs 1.22× the price in Shanghai
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥235Nairobi costs 1.17× the price in Shanghai
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥42Nairobi costs 1.19× the price in Shanghai
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥429.8¥379.4Shanghai costs 1.13× the price in Nairobi
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥76.5¥232.9Nairobi costs 3.05× the price in Shanghai
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥52.7¥107.6Nairobi costs 2.04× the price in Shanghai
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥462.0¥330.4Shanghai costs 1.40× the price in Nairobi
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥60.0¥52.2Shanghai costs 1.15× the price in Nairobi
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.6¥10.3Nairobi costs 1.20× the price in Shanghai

Supermarket prices

MetricShanghaiNairobiShanghai vs Nairobi
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥88.8¥42.0Shanghai costs 2.12× the price in Nairobi
🥚 Eggs (12)¥12.3¥11.3Shanghai costs 1.09× the price in Nairobi
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥13.6¥5.8Shanghai costs 2.34× the price in Nairobi
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥13.0¥3.7Shanghai costs 3.48× the price in Nairobi
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥15.5¥21.5Nairobi costs 1.39× the price in Shanghai
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥5.6¥6.9Nairobi costs 1.24× the price in Shanghai
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥12.0¥6.7Shanghai costs 1.78× the price in Nairobi
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.1¥15.3Nairobi costs 2.52× the price in Shanghai
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥77.5¥78.3Nairobi costs 1.01× the price in Shanghai

Rent & property prices

MetricShanghaiNairobiShanghai vs Nairobi
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥6,371¥2,739Shanghai costs 2.33× the price in Nairobi
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,832¥1,444Shanghai costs 2.65× the price in Nairobi
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥16,000¥7,826Shanghai costs 2.04× the price in Nairobi
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥8,594¥3,509Shanghai costs 2.45× the price in Nairobi
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥93,933¥9,697Shanghai costs 9.69× the price in Nairobi
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥44,760¥6,077Shanghai costs 7.36× the price in Nairobi