😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $691 in Changzhou versus $626 in Bandung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,158 in Changzhou versus $941 in Bandung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Changzhou versus $1,255 in Bandung.
🌍Living in Changzhou is roughly 10% more expensive than in Bandung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Changzhou48% lower, Bandung53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84¥19.18
$1.32Rp 23.6K
115.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.06¥176
$9.48Rp 170.4K
174.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.23¥28.60
$3.31Rp 59.4K
27.79%
Cappuccino
$2.93¥19.79
$1.49Rp 26.7K
96.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.24
$0.52Rp 9,373
-7.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25¥1.67
$0.27Rp 4,888
-7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.68¥4.56
$3.31Rp 59.5K
-79.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41¥9.55
$3.52Rp 63.2K
-59.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00¥13.53
$1.21Rp 21.8K
65.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27¥8.61
$1.07Rp 19.2K
18.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99¥6.68
$0.95Rp 17.1K
4.21%
Eggs
$1.79¥12.11
$1.59Rp 28.6K
12.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.94¥46.86
$8.96Rp 161.0K
-22.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.53¥17.12
$3.14Rp 56.4K
-19.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77¥66.0
$8.08Rp 145.1K
20.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73¥11.71
$2.37Rp 42.7K
-27.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80¥12.19
$1.29Rp 23.3K
39.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65¥11.14
$1.73Rp 31.0K
-4.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03¥6.94
$1.58Rp 28.4K
-34.81%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73¥4.91
$1.46Rp 26.2K
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.56
$2.70Rp 48.5K
-64.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37¥2.47
$0.90Rp 16.3K
-58.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53¥3.59
$0.42Rp 7,597
26.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03¥20.48
$2.53Rp 45.4K
19.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37¥70.1
$21.74Rp 390.8K
-52.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71¥4.77
$2.12Rp 38.1K
-66.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64¥11.05
$3.54Rp 63.7K
-53.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32¥2.17
$0.30Rp 5,370
6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.14¥88.8
$10.26Rp 184.4K
28.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41¥9.54
$0.70Rp 12.7K
101.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28¥1.90
$0.76Rp 13.7K
-63.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.82¥19.06
$2.59Rp 46.5K
8.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10¥7.43
$0.81Rp 14.5K
35.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.2K¥103.0K
$24.4KRp 438.8M
-37.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥113.0K
$25.8KRp 462.8M
-35.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.32¥306
$44.02Rp 791.2K
2.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.57¥78.2
$4.47Rp 80.4K
158.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.30¥124
$22.86Rp 410.8K
-19.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.05¥257
$21.68Rp 389.6K
75.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.73¥92.8
$6.60Rp 118.7K
108.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.44¥43.50
$3.13Rp 56.3K
105.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234¥1,584
$93.0Rp 1.7M
152.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7K¥92.6K
$7,512Rp 135.0M
82.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.12¥305
$41.31Rp 742.5K
9.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35¥178
$30.79Rp 553.3K
-14.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.4¥462
$58.6Rp 1.1M
16.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1¥473
$64.3Rp 1.2M
8.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282¥1,903
$235Rp 4.2M
19.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$205¥1,387
$152Rp 2.7M
35.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$850¥5,747
$464Rp 8.3M
83.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462¥3,125
$247Rp 4.4M
86.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,987¥20.2K
$705Rp 12.7M
323.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,642¥11.1K
$305Rp 5.5M
438.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Changzhou
Bandung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,040¥7,029
$277Rp 5.0M
275.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.35
9.15
-63.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Changzhou: July 13, 2026
Last update for Bandung: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Changzhou and $235 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Changzhou pays 276% 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: $26.00 in Changzhou vs $9.00 in Bandung. Groceries flip the comparison at $177 vs $214, 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
Changzhou vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Changzhou or Bandung?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 10% 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 Changzhou or in Bandung?
Average pay runs 276% higher in Changzhou, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Changzhou compared to Bandung?
Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Changzhou versus $235 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Changzhou or in Bandung?
Shoppers in Changzhou pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Changzhou and in Bandung?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $26.00 in Changzhou. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Changzhou or in Bandung?
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, Changzhou or Bandung?
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 Changzhou compared to Bandung?
Safety-wise, Changzhou and Bandung 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 10% less than in Changzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.