🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $644 in Bandung versus $723 in Shenyang.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $939 in Bandung versus $1,062 in Shenyang.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,234 in Bandung versus $1,400 in Shenyang.
🌍Living in Bandung costs roughly 11% less than in Shenyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Shenyang47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39Rp 24.7K
$2.88¥19.35
-51.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.39Rp 255.0K
$22.21¥149
-35.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.31Rp 58.7K
$5.17¥34.68
-35.98%
Cappuccino
$1.57Rp 27.8K
$2.38¥15.96
-34.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,438
$0.46¥3.10
-8.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,461
$0.38¥2.56
-34.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15Rp 55.9K
$0.85¥5.71
270.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02Rp 53.6K
$1.89¥12.70
59.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Rp 19.9K
$1.98¥13.28
-43.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00Rp 17.7K
$2.42¥16.26
-58.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.5K
$1.05¥7.07
-21.90%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 26.4K
$1.01¥6.76
47.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.31Rp 129.6K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00Rp 53.2K
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.16Rp 144.5K
$11.67¥78.3
-30.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.3K
$1.76¥11.78
28.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08Rp 19.1K
$1.22¥8.22
-11.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.4K
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97Rp 17.2K
$1.47¥9.89
-34.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09Rp 19.4K
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69Rp 12.3K
$0.57¥3.82
21.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,748
$0.68¥4.59
-35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66Rp 47.2K
$3.65¥24.48
-27.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.71Rp 402.5K
$16.40¥110
38.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84Rp 32.6K
$0.70¥4.72
162.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 58.7K
$1.14¥7.63
190.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,209
$0.39¥2.60
-25.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.46Rp 167.6K
$12.57¥84.4
-24.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$1.33¥8.91
-34.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52Rp 9,204
$0.29¥1.92
79.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.29Rp 40.5K
$2.95¥19.77
-22.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$1.26¥8.46
-38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 375.4M
$19.3K¥129.4K
9.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KRp 523.7M
$18.2K¥122.1K
62.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.35Rp 608.8K
$75.2¥505
-54.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 76.0K
$15.36¥103
-72.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.31Rp 342.2K
$14.99¥101
28.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.65Rp 330.6K
$22.18¥149
-15.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.80Rp 102.8K
$10.63¥71.4
-45.44%
Cinema Ticket
$2.86Rp 50.7K
$6.07¥40.76
-52.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.1Rp 1.7M
$553¥3,709
-82.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,509Rp 150.8M
$22.0K¥147.5K
-61.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.89Rp 689.2K
$41.90¥281
-7.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.08Rp 586.2K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$59.4¥398
29.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4Rp 1.2M
$69.8¥468
0.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219Rp 3.9M
$267¥1,793
-18.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183Rp 3.2M
$240¥1,607
-23.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$385Rp 6.8M
$568¥3,809
-32.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268Rp 4.7M
$404¥2,708
-33.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$718Rp 12.7M
$2,312¥15.5K
-68.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$310Rp 5.5M
$1,323¥8,875
-76.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Shenyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$285Rp 5.1M
$1,111¥7,454
-74.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
4.37
160.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandung: August 31, 2026
Last update for Shenyang: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Bandung and $267 in Shenyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shenyang pays 289% 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: $14.00 in Bandung vs $22.00 in Shenyang. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $160, 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 12% 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 289% 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: $219 in Bandung versus $267 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 23% 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 $14.00 versus $22.00 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 $644 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 12% less than in Shenyang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.