Cost of Living & Income: Shanghai vs Plovdiv

ℹ️ About the data: the figures for Shanghai and Plovdiv 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

MetricShanghaiPlovdivShanghai vs Plovdiv
💰 Average monthly net salary¥11,735¥7,894Shanghai earns 1.5× the salary in Plovdiv

Daily expenses

MetricShanghaiPlovdivShanghai vs Plovdiv
🍜 Meal, inexpensive restaurant¥30¥68Plovdiv costs 2.25× the price in Shanghai
🍝 Meal for two, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)¥200¥311Plovdiv costs 1.56× the price in Shanghai
🍔 McMeal at McDonald's (or equivalent)¥35¥61Plovdiv costs 1.74× the price in Shanghai
💧 Utilities, 85 m² apartment (monthly)¥429.8¥781.8Plovdiv costs 1.82× the price in Shanghai
💻 Broadband internet, 60 Mbps+ (monthly)¥76.5¥106.6Plovdiv costs 1.39× the price in Shanghai
📱 Mobile plan, calls + 10 GB+ data (monthly)¥52.7¥127.2Plovdiv costs 2.42× the price in Shanghai
💪 Gym membership (monthly)¥462.0¥282.4Shanghai costs 1.64× the price in Plovdiv
🎬 Cinema ticket, international release¥60.0¥63.6Plovdiv costs 1.06× the price in Shanghai
⛽ Petrol (1 litre)¥8.6¥11.1Plovdiv costs 1.29× the price in Shanghai

Supermarket prices

MetricShanghaiPlovdivShanghai vs Plovdiv
🥩 Beef round (1 kg)¥88.8¥102.6Plovdiv costs 1.16× the price in Shanghai
🥚 Eggs (12)¥12.3¥25.5Plovdiv costs 2.07× the price in Shanghai
🥛 Milk (1 litre)¥13.6¥12.4Shanghai costs 1.09× the price in Plovdiv
🍞 Bread (500 g)¥13.0¥8.3Shanghai costs 1.58× the price in Plovdiv
🍏 Apples (1 kg)¥15.5¥11.7Shanghai costs 1.33× the price in Plovdiv
🥔 Potatoes (1 kg)¥5.6¥7.3Plovdiv costs 1.32× the price in Shanghai
🍅 Tomatoes (1 kg)¥12.0¥18.0Plovdiv costs 1.50× the price in Shanghai
🍺 Domestic beer (500 ml)¥6.1¥8.0Plovdiv costs 1.32× the price in Shanghai
🍷 Wine, mid-range bottle¥77.5¥43.2Shanghai costs 1.79× the price in Plovdiv

Rent & property prices

MetricShanghaiPlovdivShanghai vs Plovdiv
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥6,371¥3,705Shanghai costs 1.72× the price in Plovdiv
🛌 Rent, 1-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥3,832¥2,664Shanghai costs 1.44× the price in Plovdiv
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom in city centre (monthly)¥16,000¥6,116Shanghai costs 2.62× the price in Plovdiv
🚪 Rent, 3-bedroom outside centre (monthly)¥8,594¥4,563Shanghai costs 1.88× the price in Plovdiv
🏡 Apartment price per m², city centre¥93,933¥15,711Shanghai costs 5.98× the price in Plovdiv
🏡 Apartment price per m², outside centre¥44,760¥10,745Shanghai costs 4.17× the price in Plovdiv