Cost of living comparison

compared to

Novi vs. Shanghai Cost of Living Summary

Novi is 69.7% more expensive than Shanghai.

Restaurants
pay 3.2 times more in Novi
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more in Novi
Transportation
pay 25.9% less in Novi
Housing
pay 2.2 times more in Novi
Childcare
pay 15.6% less in Novi
Entertainment and Sports
pay 32.3% more in Novi
Clothing
pay 35.9% more in Novi

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

Novi vs. Shanghai Cost Breakdown

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

pay 3.2 times more for restaurants

 
Shanghai
Novi
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $4.47
CN¥29.87
$17.50
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$5.22
CN¥34.85
$8.50
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.60
CN¥4.00
$4.00
 

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pay 2.1 times more for groceries

 
Shanghai
Novi
Bread
1 loaf
$1.98
CN¥13.19
$3.93
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $8.60
CN¥57.39
$11.02
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.88
CN¥45.91
$3.46
 

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pay 25.9% less for transportation

 
Shanghai
Novi
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.96
CN¥33.13
$3.68
 
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 2.2 times more for housing

 
Shanghai
Novi
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$10.55
CN¥70.42
$78.33
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,036.96
CN¥6,921.79
$1,716.67
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $588.71
CN¥3,929.69
$1,246.67
 

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pay 15.6% less for childcare

 
Shanghai
Novi
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,413.50
CN¥9,435.22
$1,550.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $27,686.22
CN¥185K
$18,000.00
 

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pay 32.3% more for entertainment and sports

 
Shanghai
Novi
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.19
CN¥7.96
$6.50
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.35
CN¥22.36
$4.00
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$3.73
CN¥24.89
??

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pay 35.9% more for clothing

 
Shanghai
Novi
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$54.37
CN¥362.93
??
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$37.09
CN¥247.61
$50.00
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$75.49
CN¥503.90
$175.00
 

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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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