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: $691 in Changzhou versus $663 in Shenyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,158 in Changzhou versus $1,078 in Shenyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Changzhou versus $1,493 in Shenyang.

Living in Changzhou is roughly 4% more expensive than in Shenyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changzhou 48% lower, Shenyang 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 ¥19.18

$2.86 ¥19.30

-0.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.06 ¥176

$20.61 ¥139

26.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.23 ¥28.60

$4.75 ¥32.12

-10.95%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ¥19.79

$2.57 ¥17.34

14.01%

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

$0.48 ¥3.24

$0.45 ¥3.04

6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ¥1.67

$0.35 ¥2.35

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.68 ¥4.56

$0.81 ¥5.47

-16.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 ¥9.55

$2.15 ¥14.55

-34.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ¥13.53

$1.96 ¥13.26

2.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ¥8.61

$1.90 ¥12.86

-33.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ¥6.68

$1.03 ¥6.96

-3.88%

Eggs

$1.79 ¥12.11

$1.11 ¥7.50

61.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.94 ¥46.86

$9.49 ¥64.1

-26.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.53 ¥17.12

$2.91 ¥19.67

-13.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 ¥66.0

$12.27 ¥82.9

-20.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.73 ¥11.71

$1.40 ¥9.43

23.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ¥12.19

$1.01 ¥6.83

78.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ¥11.14

$0.87 ¥5.90

89.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 ¥6.94

$1.28 ¥8.67

-19.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.91

$0.50 ¥3.39

46.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 ¥6.56

$0.61 ¥4.15

59.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 ¥2.47

$0.44 ¥2.94

-15.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ¥3.59

$0.66 ¥4.47

-19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ¥20.48

$3.06 ¥20.66

-0.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 ¥70.1

$16.78 ¥113

-38.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥4.77

$0.71 ¥4.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ¥11.05

$0.90 ¥6.10

82.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ¥2.17

$0.36 ¥2.44

-11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.14 ¥88.8

$11.65 ¥78.8

12.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ¥9.54

$1.23 ¥8.30

14.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.26 ¥1.73

7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 ¥19.06

$3.45 ¥23.32

-18.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.43

$1.20 ¥8.11

-8.33%

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

$15.2K ¥103.0K

$18.1K ¥122.2K

-15.65%

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

$16.7K ¥113.0K

$18.9K ¥127.4K

-11.32%

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

$45.32 ¥306

$66.4 ¥448

-31.70%

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

$11.57 ¥78.2

$14.95 ¥101

-22.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.30 ¥124

$14.00 ¥94.6

30.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.05 ¥257

$21.01 ¥142

81.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.73 ¥92.8

$6.36 ¥42.98

115.88%

Cinema Ticket

$6.44 ¥43.50

$4.91 ¥33.15

31.16%

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

$234 ¥1,584

$458 ¥3,094

-48.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K ¥92.6K

$25.1K ¥169.4K

-45.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.12 ¥305

$49.22 ¥333

-8.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 ¥178

$31.70 ¥214

-16.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.4 ¥462

$73.1 ¥494

-6.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ¥473

$78.1 ¥528

-10.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 ¥1,903

$233 ¥1,575

20.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 ¥1,387

$146 ¥985

40.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 ¥5,747

$520 ¥3,516

63.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$462 ¥3,125

$339 ¥2,290

36.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,987 ¥20.2K

$2,280 ¥15.4K

31.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,642 ¥11.1K

$1,266 ¥8,558

29.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,040 ¥7,029

$948 ¥6,409

9.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.35

5.27

-36.43%

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

Last update for Changzhou: July 13, 2026

Last update for Shenyang: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Changzhou and $233 in Shenyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Changzhou pays 10% 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 $21.00 in Shenyang. Groceries flip the comparison at $177 vs $201, 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 Shenyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shenyang is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 10% higher in Changzhou, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Changzhou versus $233 in Shenyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Changzhou pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Shenyang – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $26.00 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 4% less than in Changzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.