🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Bandung versus $663 in Shenyang.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $941 in Bandung versus $1,078 in Shenyang.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,255 in Bandung versus $1,493 in Shenyang.
🌍Living in Bandung costs roughly 6% less than in Shenyang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Shenyang50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.32Rp 23.5K
$2.86¥19.33
-53.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.48Rp 169.6K
$20.61¥139
-54.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.31Rp 59.1K
$4.75¥32.17
-30.32%
Cappuccino
$1.49Rp 26.6K
$2.57¥17.36
-42.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,331
$0.45¥3.05
15.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,866
$0.35¥2.35
-22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.31Rp 59.3K
$0.81¥5.48
308.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52Rp 62.9K
$2.15¥14.57
63.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.7K
$1.96¥13.28
-38.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.1K
$1.90¥12.88
-43.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$1.03¥6.97
-7.77%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.5K
$1.11¥7.52
43.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96Rp 160.3K
$9.49¥64.2
-5.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 56.2K
$2.91¥19.70
7.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.08Rp 144.5K
$12.27¥83.0
-34.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.5K
$1.40¥9.44
69.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.2K
$1.01¥6.84
27.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73Rp 30.9K
$0.87¥5.91
98.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58Rp 28.3K
$1.28¥8.68
23.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.0K
$0.50¥3.39
192.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.70Rp 48.3K
$0.61¥4.15
342.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.2K
$0.44¥2.95
104.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,563
$0.66¥4.47
-36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53Rp 45.2K
$3.06¥20.69
-17.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.74Rp 389.0K
$16.78¥114
29.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.9K
$0.71¥4.83
198.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54Rp 63.4K
$0.90¥6.11
293.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,345
$0.36¥2.44
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.26Rp 183.5K
$11.65¥78.9
-11.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$1.23¥8.32
-43.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$0.26¥1.74
192.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.59Rp 46.3K
$3.45¥23.36
-24.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.5K
$1.20¥8.12
-32.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 436.8M
$18.1K¥122.3K
35.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KRp 460.7M
$18.9K¥127.6K
36.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.02Rp 787.6K
$66.4¥449
-33.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.47Rp 80.0K
$14.95¥101
-70.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.86Rp 409.0K
$14.00¥94.7
63.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.68Rp 387.9K
$21.01¥142
3.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60Rp 118.1K
$6.36¥43.05
3.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13Rp 56.1K
$4.91¥33.20
-36.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0Rp 1.7M
$458¥3,099
-79.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,512Rp 134.4M
$25.1K¥169.7K
-70.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.31Rp 739.1K
$49.22¥333
-16.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.79Rp 550.8K
$31.70¥215
-2.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.6Rp 1.0M
$73.1¥495
-19.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3Rp 1.2M
$78.1¥528
-17.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235Rp 4.2M
$233¥1,577
0.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152Rp 2.7M
$146¥986
4.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$464Rp 8.3M
$520¥3,521
-10.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247Rp 4.4M
$339¥2,293
-26.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$705Rp 12.6M
$2,280¥15.4K
-69.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$305Rp 5.5M
$1,266¥8,571
-75.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$277Rp 5.0M
$948¥6,419
-70.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
5.27
73.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandung: July 12, 2026
Last update for Shenyang: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Bandung and $233 in Shenyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shenyang pays 243% 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 $21.00 in Shenyang. Groceries flip the comparison at $214 vs $201, with Shenyang 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 Shenyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Shenyang?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Shenyang. 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 in Shenyang?
On paper, salaries run 243% lower in Shenyang. 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 compared to Shenyang?
Rent for a central apartment: $235 in Bandung versus $233 in Shenyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Shenyang?
Shoppers in Shenyang pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Shenyang?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $21.00 in Shenyang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or in Shenyang?
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 Shenyang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $626 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 Shenyang?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Shenyang 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 6% less than in Shenyang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.