Purchasing Power
#22
of 124 cities
#22 of 124
Asia
Shanghai
China
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Shanghai compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Shanghai is 20% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Shanghai compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$49,005
-$123K (-72%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 39%
Community Insights
NewShanghai offers a high-voltage, convenient lifestyle that can be incredibly lucrative for software engineers on expat packages. The city ranks high for purchasing power (#25) and safety (#23), allowing for a comfortable life where you can save significantly. However, the trade-off is substantial: you must navigate the Great Firewall, tolerate mediocre air quality (#100), and adapt to a hyper-competitive work environment that often bleeds into personal time. While the "Shanghai Wails" sentiment has seen some foreigners leave, those who stay often cite the unmatched convenience and energy of the city as hard to replicate elsewhere.
Resident Sentiment
Mixed and Pragmatic.
Residents often describe a "love-hate" relationship. They love the safety and convenience, frequently mentioning how much they miss the seamless delivery apps and mobile payments when visiting home. However, there is a growing undertone of fatigue regarding the internet restrictions and the "hustle" culture. Many long-term expats have left recently (the "Shanghai Wails" sentiment), but those remaining focus on the high quality of life their salaries afford them compared to the West.
The Good
Rankings
Top 18%
Safety Index
#23
of 124 cities
73.5/100
Current value
Cost of Living
#26
of 124 cities
32/100
Current value (lower is better)
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Shanghai compared to San Francisco?
Avg. Property Price
$10,807 / m²
8% more expensive than San Francisco
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Shanghai to maintain the same standard of living.
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