Cost of living comparison

compared to

Elkhart vs. Shanghai Cost of Living Summary

Elkhart is 18.8% more expensive than Shanghai.

Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more in Elkhart
Groceries
pay 4.0% less in Elkhart
Transportation
pay 16.8% more in Elkhart
Housing
pay 52.6% more in Elkhart
Childcare
pay 54.1% less in Elkhart
Entertainment and Sports
pay 12.8% less in Elkhart
Clothing
pay 35.0% less in Elkhart

The cost of restaurants, housing, and transportation in Elkhart are more expensive than in Shanghai. Expenses including childcare, clothing, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Elkhart. Notably, restaurants is significantly more expensive in Elkhart.

Elkhart vs. Shanghai Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Elkhart instead of Shanghai, you would:

pay 2.4 times more for restaurants

 
Shanghai
Elkhart
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $4.47
CN¥29.87
$10.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.22
CN¥34.85
$10.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.60
CN¥4.00
$2.80
 

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pay 4.0% less for groceries

 
Shanghai
Elkhart
Bread
1 loaf
$1.98
CN¥13.19
$1.21
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $8.60
CN¥57.39
$2.34
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.88
CN¥45.91
$3.06
 

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pay 16.8% more for transportation

 
Shanghai
Elkhart
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.96
CN¥33.13
$3.23
 
Monthly public transit pass $29.83
CN¥199.12
$25.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $19,374.76
CN¥129K
$34,000.00
 

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pay 52.6% more for housing

 
Shanghai
Elkhart
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$10.55
CN¥70.42
$52.50
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,036.96
CN¥6,921.79
$1,000.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $588.71
CN¥3,929.69
$850.00
 

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pay 54.1% less for childcare

 
Shanghai
Elkhart
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,413.50
CN¥9,435.22
$648.50
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $27,686.22
CN¥185K
??

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pay 12.8% less for entertainment and sports

 
Shanghai
Elkhart
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.19
CN¥7.96
$3.75
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.35
CN¥22.36
$1.75
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.73
CN¥24.89
$8.50
 

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pay 35.0% less for clothing

 
Shanghai
Elkhart
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$54.37
CN¥362.93
$35.49
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$37.09
CN¥247.61
$15.00
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$75.49
CN¥503.90
$67.50
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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