🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Bandung versus $708 in Changzhou.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $949 in Bandung versus $1,160 in Changzhou.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,251 in Bandung versus $1,612 in Changzhou.
🙂Living in Bandung costs roughly 9% less than in Changzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung52% lower, Changzhou47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.28Rp 23.0K
$2.84¥19.24
-54.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.42Rp 169.9K
$26.70¥181
-64.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.43Rp 61.9K
$4.24¥28.74
-19.10%
Cappuccino
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$2.95¥20.00
-51.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,769
$0.48¥3.22
2.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,479
$0.25¥1.68
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28Rp 59.1K
$0.69¥4.66
375.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57Rp 64.4K
$1.42¥9.64
151.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 21.3K
$1.99¥13.49
-40.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.4K
$1.27¥8.61
-15.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 17.0K
$0.93¥6.30
1.08%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 28.4K
$1.80¥12.18
-12.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.33Rp 168.3K
$6.80¥46.08
37.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.02Rp 54.5K
$2.41¥16.33
25.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.92Rp 142.9K
$9.43¥63.9
-16.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.7K
$1.77¥12.00
33.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 24.0K
$1.79¥12.11
-25.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69Rp 30.5K
$1.65¥11.16
2.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$0.96¥6.51
58.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.7K
$0.73¥4.96
102.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67Rp 48.1K
$0.92¥6.22
190.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.3K
$0.39¥2.65
146.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,284
$0.49¥3.30
-6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57Rp 46.3K
$3.01¥20.42
-14.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.35Rp 403.1K
$10.32¥69.9
116.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10Rp 37.8K
$0.69¥4.65
204.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49Rp 62.9K
$1.62¥11.00
115.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,395
$0.30¥2.01
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.57Rp 190.7K
$13.20¥89.4
-19.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76Rp 13.7K
$1.35¥9.14
-43.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71Rp 12.8K
$0.28¥1.91
153.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.59Rp 46.7K
$2.71¥18.34
-4.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.5K
$1.16¥7.85
-30.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 439.6M
$15.4K¥104.2K
58.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KRp 476.2M
$17.4K¥117.7K
51.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.12Rp 777.6K
$44.68¥303
-3.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.52Rp 81.6K
$11.47¥77.7
-60.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.94Rp 413.8K
$18.22¥123
25.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.48Rp 387.4K
$38.78¥263
-44.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.62Rp 119.4K
$14.10¥95.5
-53.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16Rp 56.9K
$6.43¥43.53
-50.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.4Rp 1.7M
$230¥1,560
-59.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,577Rp 136.6M
$13.9K¥94.0K
-45.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.84Rp 754.6K
$46.28¥313
-9.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.57Rp 551.2K
$26.00¥176
17.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.2Rp 1.1M
$70.6¥478
-16.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.7Rp 1.1M
$69.0¥467
-7.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234Rp 4.2M
$285¥1,931
-17.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$204¥1,384
-23.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447Rp 8.1M
$844¥5,715
-47.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247Rp 4.5M
$472¥3,196
-47.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$723Rp 13.0M
$2,967¥20.1K
-75.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$309Rp 5.6M
$1,597¥10.8K
-80.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Changzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$284Rp 5.1M
$1,140¥7,722
-75.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
3.35
173.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandung: June 2, 2026
Last update for Changzhou: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Bandung and $285 in Changzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Changzhou pays 302% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Bandung vs $27.00 in Changzhou. Groceries flip the comparison at $215 vs $174, with Changzhou cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bandung vs Changzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Changzhou?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Changzhou. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bandung or Changzhou?
On paper, Changzhou earns 302% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandung vs Changzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Bandung versus $285 in Changzhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or Changzhou?
Shoppers in Changzhou pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung vs Changzhou?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $27.00 in Changzhou. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or Changzhou?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Bandung gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bandung or Changzhou?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $647 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandung hard to pass up.
How safe is Bandung compared to Changzhou?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Changzhou are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Changzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.