Cost of Living & Income: Shanghai vs Pittsburgh

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Shanghai and Pittsburgh 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

MetricShanghaiPittsburghShanghai vs Pittsburgh
💰 Average monthly net salary¥11,735¥29,241Pittsburgh earns 2.5× the salary in Shanghai

Daily expenses

MetricShanghaiPittsburghShanghai vs Pittsburgh
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥30¥135Pittsburgh costs 4.50× the price in Shanghai
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥409Pittsburgh costs 2.05× the price in Shanghai
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥68Pittsburgh costs 1.93× the price in Shanghai
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥429.8¥1,708.1Pittsburgh costs 3.97× the price in Shanghai
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥76.5¥472.5Pittsburgh costs 6.18× the price in Shanghai
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥52.7¥361.6Pittsburgh costs 6.87× the price in Shanghai
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥462.0¥300.4Shanghai costs 1.54× the price in Pittsburgh
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥60.0¥84.4Pittsburgh costs 1.41× the price in Shanghai
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.6¥6.8Shanghai costs 1.26× the price in Pittsburgh

Supermarket prices

MetricShanghaiPittsburghShanghai vs Pittsburgh
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥88.8¥119.0Pittsburgh costs 1.34× the price in Shanghai
🥚 Eggs (12)¥12.3¥32.4Pittsburgh costs 2.63× the price in Shanghai
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥13.6¥8.3Shanghai costs 1.64× the price in Pittsburgh
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥13.0¥25.8Pittsburgh costs 1.99× the price in Shanghai
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥15.5¥35.2Pittsburgh costs 2.27× the price in Shanghai
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥5.6¥16.4Pittsburgh costs 2.95× the price in Shanghai
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥12.0¥38.1Pittsburgh costs 3.18× the price in Shanghai
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.1¥14.2Pittsburgh costs 2.34× the price in Shanghai
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥77.5¥87.8Pittsburgh costs 1.13× the price in Shanghai

Rent & property prices

MetricShanghaiPittsburghShanghai vs Pittsburgh
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥6,371¥10,597Pittsburgh costs 1.66× the price in Shanghai
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,832¥7,602Pittsburgh costs 1.98× the price in Shanghai
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥16,000¥16,748Pittsburgh costs 1.05× the price in Shanghai
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥8,594¥11,838Pittsburgh costs 1.38× the price in Shanghai
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥93,933¥21,182Shanghai costs 4.43× the price in Pittsburgh
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥44,760¥13,717Shanghai costs 3.26× the price in Pittsburgh