Cost of living comparison

compared to

Holland vs. Shanghai Cost of Living Summary

Holland is 56.7% more expensive than Shanghai.

Restaurants
pay 3.1 times more in Holland
Groceries
pay 48.0% more in Holland
Transportation
pay 13.1% more in Holland
Housing
pay 2.0 times more in Holland
Childcare
pay 35.5% less in Holland
Entertainment and Sports
pay 39.6% more in Holland
Clothing
pay 13.4% less in Holland

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

Holland vs. Shanghai Cost Breakdown

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

pay 3.1 times more for restaurants

 
Shanghai
Holland
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $4.47
CN¥29.87
$15.50
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.22
CN¥34.85
$12.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.60
CN¥4.00
$2.00
 

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pay 48.0% more for groceries

 
Shanghai
Holland
Bread
1 loaf
$1.98
CN¥13.19
$2.15
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $8.60
CN¥57.39
$8.86
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.88
CN¥45.91
$3.39
 

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pay 13.1% more for transportation

 
Shanghai
Holland
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.96
CN¥33.13
$3.37
 
Monthly public transit pass $29.83
CN¥199.12
$34.50
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $19,374.76
CN¥129K
$29,195.00
 

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pay 2.0 times more for housing

 
Shanghai
Holland
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$10.55
CN¥70.42
$71.33
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,036.96
CN¥6,921.79
$1,316.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $588.71
CN¥3,929.69
$1,353.33
 

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pay 35.5% less for childcare

 
Shanghai
Holland
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,413.50
CN¥9,435.22
$813.54
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $27,686.22
CN¥185K
$20,000.00
 

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pay 39.6% more for entertainment and sports

 
Shanghai
Holland
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.19
CN¥7.96
$6.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.35
CN¥22.36
$5.06
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.73
CN¥24.89
$8.89
 

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pay 13.4% less for clothing

 
Shanghai
Holland
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$54.37
CN¥362.93
$46.33
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$37.09
CN¥247.61
$32.00
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$75.49
CN¥503.90
$74.50
 

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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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