Cost of living comparison

compared to

Johnstown vs. Shanghai Cost of Living Summary

Johnstown is 22.8% more expensive than Shanghai.

Restaurants
pay 2.6 times more in Johnstown
Groceries
pay 42.8% more in Johnstown
Transportation
pay 25.7% less in Johnstown
Housing
pay 6.4% more in Johnstown
Childcare
pay 85.0% more in Johnstown
Entertainment and Sports
pay 37.2% more in Johnstown
Clothing
pay 9.0% more in Johnstown

The cost of restaurants, childcare, groceries, entertainment and sports, clothing, and housing in Johnstown are more expensive than in Shanghai. Notably, restaurants and childcare are significantly more expensive in Johnstown.

Johnstown vs. Shanghai Cost Breakdown

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

pay 2.6 times more for restaurants

 
Shanghai
Johnstown
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $4.47
CN¥29.87
$13.50
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.22
CN¥34.85
$7.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.60
CN¥4.00
$2.75
 

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pay 42.8% more for groceries

 
Shanghai
Johnstown
Bread
1 loaf
$1.98
CN¥13.19
$1.42
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $8.60
CN¥57.39
$8.26
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.88
CN¥45.91
$4.75
 

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pay 25.7% less for transportation

 
Shanghai
Johnstown
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.96
CN¥33.13
$3.69
 
Monthly public transit pass $29.83
CN¥199.12
??
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $19,374.76
CN¥129K
??

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pay 6.4% more for housing

 
Shanghai
Johnstown
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$10.55
CN¥70.42
$70.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,036.96
CN¥6,921.79
$655.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $588.71
CN¥3,929.69
$600.50
 

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pay 85.0% more for childcare

 
Shanghai
Johnstown
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,413.50
CN¥9,435.22
$2,233.33
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $27,686.22
CN¥185K
$60,000.00
 

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pay 37.2% more for entertainment and sports

 
Shanghai
Johnstown
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.19
CN¥7.96
$4.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.35
CN¥22.36
$6.25
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.73
CN¥24.89
$10.00
 

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pay 9.0% more for clothing

 
Shanghai
Johnstown
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$54.37
CN¥362.93
$47.33
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$37.09
CN¥247.61
$36.33
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$75.49
CN¥503.90
$110.00
 

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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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