Cost of Living Comparison Between Changzhou and Shenyang Cost of Living Comparison Between Changzhou and Shenyang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $733 in Changzhou versus $723 in Shenyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,214 in Changzhou versus $1,062 in Shenyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,695 in Changzhou versus $1,400 in Shenyang.

Living in Changzhou is roughly 1% more expensive than in Shenyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changzhou 47% lower, Shenyang 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 ¥20.18

$2.88 ¥19.35

4.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.60 ¥192

$22.21 ¥149

28.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ¥30.62

$5.17 ¥34.68

-11.80%

Cappuccino

$2.11 ¥14.19

$2.38 ¥15.96

-11.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ¥2.57

$0.46 ¥3.09

-17.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ¥1.54

$0.38 ¥2.56

-39.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.57 ¥3.84

$0.85 ¥5.71

-32.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ¥9.75

$1.89 ¥12.70

-23.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 ¥12.94

$1.98 ¥13.28

-2.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ¥8.57

$2.42 ¥16.26

-47.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ¥6.43

$1.05 ¥7.07

-8.57%

Eggs

$1.63 ¥10.91

$1.01 ¥6.76

61.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ¥50.5

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.88 ¥19.36

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.37 ¥83.0

$11.67 ¥78.3

6.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 ¥14.16

$1.76 ¥11.78

19.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.59

$1.22 ¥8.21

41.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 ¥13.74

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ¥7.30

$1.47 ¥9.89

-25.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ¥5.83

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ¥2.79

$0.57 ¥3.82

-26.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ¥4.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ¥21.84

$3.65 ¥24.47

-10.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.49 ¥70.4

$16.40 ¥110

-36.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥6.26

$0.70 ¥4.72

32.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ¥10.67

$1.14 ¥7.63

39.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 ¥2.32

$0.39 ¥2.60

-10.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.09 ¥94.5

$12.57 ¥84.4

12.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ¥9.83

$1.33 ¥8.91

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 ¥2.09

$0.29 ¥1.92

6.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.86 ¥19.17

$2.95 ¥19.77

-3.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥8.47

$1.26 ¥8.46

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.3K ¥115.9K

$19.3K ¥129.4K

-10.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$13.9K ¥93.5K

$18.2K ¥122.1K

-23.45%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.2 ¥424

$75.2 ¥504

-15.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.63 ¥57.9

$15.36 ¥103

-43.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.42 ¥69.9

$14.99 ¥101

-30.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.42 ¥271

$22.18 ¥149

82.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.00 ¥101

$10.63 ¥71.3

41.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 ¥30.55

$6.07 ¥40.76

-25.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$252 ¥1,691

$553 ¥3,709

-54.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ¥99.7K

$22.0K ¥147.5K

-32.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.92 ¥328

$41.90 ¥281

16.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.76 ¥186

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 ¥491

$59.4 ¥398

23.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.1 ¥504

$69.8 ¥468

7.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 ¥1,906

$267 ¥1,792

6.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 ¥1,555

$240 ¥1,607

-3.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$918 ¥6,158

$568 ¥3,809

61.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ¥3,378

$404 ¥2,707

24.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,950 ¥19.8K

$2,312 ¥15.5K

27.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 ¥10.8K

$1,323 ¥8,874

21.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 ¥7,157

$1,111 ¥7,453

-3.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.35

4.37

-23.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Changzhou: August 29, 2026

Last update for Shenyang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Changzhou and $267 in Shenyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shenyang pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $29.00 in Changzhou vs $22.00 in Shenyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $160 per month, with Shenyang cheaper across the board.

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 Shenyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shenyang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 4% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Changzhou versus $267 in Shenyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Changzhou. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Shenyang – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $29.00 in Changzhou. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Shenyang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Shenyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Changzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.