Cost of living comparison

compared to

Northfield vs. Shanghai Cost of Living Summary

Northfield is 49.7% more expensive than Shanghai.

Restaurants
pay 3.7 times more in Northfield
Groceries
pay 63.3% more in Northfield
Transportation
pay 9.2% more in Northfield
Housing
pay 55.7% more in Northfield
Childcare
pay 71.7% less in Northfield
Entertainment and Sports
pay 88.5% more in Northfield
Clothing
pay 30.2% more in Northfield

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

Northfield vs. Shanghai Cost Breakdown

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

pay 3.7 times more for restaurants

 
Shanghai
Northfield
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $4.47
CN¥29.87
$22.50
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.22
CN¥34.85
$12.50
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.60
CN¥4.00
$2.50
 

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pay 63.3% more for groceries

 
Shanghai
Northfield
Bread
1 loaf
$1.98
CN¥13.19
$4.41
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $8.60
CN¥57.39
$6.61
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.88
CN¥45.91
$4.00
 

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pay 9.2% more for transportation

 
Shanghai
Northfield
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.96
CN¥33.13
$4.02
 
Monthly public transit pass $29.83
CN¥199.12
??
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $19,374.76
CN¥129K
$30,000.00
 

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pay 55.7% more for housing

 
Shanghai
Northfield
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
$1,046.67
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $588.71
CN¥3,929.69
$873.00
 

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pay 71.7% less for childcare

 
Shanghai
Northfield
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,413.50
CN¥9,435.22
$400.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $27,686.22
CN¥185K
??

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pay 88.5% more for entertainment and sports

 
Shanghai
Northfield
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.19
CN¥7.96
$4.50
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.35
CN¥22.36
$5.00
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.73
CN¥24.89
$11.00
 

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pay 30.2% more for clothing

 
Shanghai
Northfield
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$54.37
CN¥362.93
$70.00
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$37.09
CN¥247.61
$60.00
 
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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