Forum
Analytics
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
31%
Weight: 150
Shanghai is relatively expensive compared to many Asian cities, especially for foreigners, with high prices in central areas.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
28%
Weight: 80
Rental prices in Shanghai are high, particularly in popular expat neighborhoods and city center.
🍎 Food & Groceries
54%
Weight: 40
Local food and groceries are affordable, but imported goods and dining in Western-style restaurants can be pricey.
🚌 Transportation Cost
79%
Weight: 20
Public transit is extensive and inexpensive; metro and buses are affordable and efficient.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
42%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options vary; nightlife and cultural events can be costly, but local activities are cheaper.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
45%
Weight: 10
Mid-range gym memberships are moderately priced; premium gyms and boutique studios are expensive.
💱 Currency Stability
67%
Weight: 30
Chinese Yuan is relatively stable but subject to government controls and occasional fluctuations.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
73%
Weight: 100
High-speed internet widely available, but international access can be slow due to Great Firewall restrictions.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
86%
Weight: 40
Numerous coworking spaces with modern facilities are available throughout the city.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
78%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though connection quality varies and some sites are blocked.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
69%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers, but fewer than in Western cities; noise and space can be issues.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
51%
Weight: 100
Shanghai is moderately popular among digital nomads, but visa restrictions limit long-term stays.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
87%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain SIM cards with good data plans for foreigners.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
43%
Weight: 30
Work culture tends to be demanding with long hours; limited emphasis on work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
32%
Weight: 15
Air pollution is a significant concern, especially in winter months; efforts to improve environment ongoing.
🧼 Cleanliness
61%
Weight: 10
Public areas are generally clean, but pollution and litter can be issues in crowded spots.
🗨️ Language Barrier
37%
Weight: 30
Mandarin is dominant; English is not widely spoken outside expat and tourist areas.
💨 Air Quality
29%
Weight: 15
Air pollution frequently exceeds safe levels, impacting health and outdoor activities.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
64%
Weight: 25
Good international schools and family amenities, but pollution and crowding are concerns.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
74%
Weight: 20
High-quality healthcare available in international hospitals and clinics.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
56%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable for locals; expats may face higher costs without insurance.
🏥 Healthcare
70%
Weight: 20
Good healthcare infrastructure with modern facilities, especially in private sector.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
53%
Weight: 80
Four distinct seasons; hot, humid summers and cold winters; moderate rainfall.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
71%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional typhoons and flooding possible.
🏞️ Green Spaces
58%
Weight: 10
Several parks and green areas, but limited compared to city size and population density.
❄️ Air Conditioning
84%
Weight: 15
Widely available in homes, offices, and public transport, essential during hot summers.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
70%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with noticeable changes in temperature and foliage.
🔊 Noise Pollution
39%
Weight: 10
High noise levels in busy areas due to traffic and construction.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
87%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with a blend of traditional Chinese and modern influences.
🌃 Nightlife
75%
Weight: 15
Vibrant nightlife with bars, clubs, and entertainment venues catering to diverse tastes.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
49%
Weight: 15
Limited natural outdoor spaces within city; nearby countryside accessible but requires travel.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
76%
Weight: 10
Many Mandarin language schools and cultural immersion opportunities available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
81%
Weight: 10
Wide range of cultural tours, historic sites, and local experiences for visitors.
🎳 Indoors Fun
79%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls, cinemas, museums, and entertainment complexes offer diverse indoor activities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
90%
Weight: 25
World-class food scene with authentic Chinese cuisine and international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
63%
Weight: 10
Growing number of yoga studios, mostly in expat-friendly neighborhoods.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
70%
Weight: 15
Good availability of gyms, fitness centers, and sports clubs.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
68%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of organic and health-focused food stores and restaurants.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65%
Weight: 20
UTC+8 time zone is favorable for working with Asia-Pacific and some European markets.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
72%
Weight: 25
Active expat and startup communities provide networking events and meetups.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
50%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; most opportunities come from international companies.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
47%
Weight: 20
Freelancing is growing but still constrained by local regulations and payment systems.
🏢 Coworking Quality
83%
Weight: 30
High-quality coworking spaces with modern amenities and professional environments.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
78%
Weight: 15
Vibrant startup ecosystem with strong government support and investment.
💳 Local Payment Services
89%
Weight: 10
Highly developed mobile payment systems (Alipay, WeChat Pay) widely accepted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
34%
Weight: 15
Strict regulations limit crypto trading and blockchain startups, though interest remains.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
91%
Weight: 30
Two major international airports with extensive global and regional connections.
🚇 Public Transit
90%
Weight: 20
Extensive metro, bus, and taxi services with affordable fares and good coverage.
🚶 Walkability
71%
Weight: 20
Many neighborhoods are walkable, though traffic and pollution can detract from experience.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
85%
Weight: 15
Popular ride-hailing apps like Didi widely used and reliable.
🚲 Cycling
62%
Weight: 10
Bike-sharing is common, but traffic and pollution reduce cycling appeal.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
87%
Weight: 15
High-speed rail and flights provide excellent connectivity to other Chinese cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
74%
Weight: 10
Electric scooter and bike rentals are widely available and affordable.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
88%
Weight: 20
Strong 4G and growing 5G coverage throughout the city.
🔒 VPN Reliability
31%
Weight: 20
VPN use is restricted and often unreliable due to government censorship.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
86%
Weight: 15
Stable electricity supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
65%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi available in many places but often slow and insecure.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
29%
Weight: 40
Visa policies are strict; obtaining long-term or digital nomad visas is challenging.
📊 Tax Friendliness
41%
Weight: 30
Complex tax system with relatively high rates for foreigners.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
15%
Weight: 15
Significant restrictions on freedom of speech and internet censorship.
🏛️ Political Stability
79%
Weight: 20
Stable political environment with strong government control.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
38%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts as a foreigner can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
52%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves complex procedures and regulations.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
44%
Weight: 50
Moderate friendliness; visa and internet restrictions limit appeal.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
57%
Weight: 25
Some digital nomad and expat meetups occur but are less frequent than in other hubs.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
63%
Weight: 20
Active online expat and nomad communities exist but are smaller compared to other cities.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
76%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Women can live and work safely, though cultural differences may pose challenges.
✊ Racial Tolerance
51%
Weight: 50
Moderate tolerance; some foreigners report occasional discrimination.