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: $708 in Changzhou versus $658 in Shenyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Changzhou versus $1,080 in Shenyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,612 in Changzhou versus $1,503 in Shenyang.

Living in Changzhou is roughly 8% more expensive than Shenyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Changzhou 47% lower, Shenyang 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 ¥19.24

$2.85 ¥19.27

-0.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.70 ¥181

$20.79 ¥141

28.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.24 ¥28.74

$4.78 ¥32.35

-11.30%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ¥20.00

$2.70 ¥18.26

9.26%

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

$0.48 ¥3.22

$0.45 ¥3.06

6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ¥1.68

$0.38 ¥2.55

-34.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ¥4.66

$0.87 ¥5.88

-20.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ¥9.64

$2.03 ¥13.77

-30.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 ¥13.49

$1.94 ¥13.11

2.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ¥8.61

$1.89 ¥12.80

-32.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.30

$0.99 ¥6.73

-6.06%

Eggs

$1.80 ¥12.18

$1.09 ¥7.41

65.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.80 ¥46.08

$9.52 ¥64.5

-28.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.41 ¥16.33

$2.92 ¥19.80

-17.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.43 ¥63.9

$12.09 ¥81.9

-22.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 ¥12.00

$1.40 ¥9.46

26.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ¥12.11

$1.02 ¥6.93

75.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ¥11.16

$0.81 ¥5.50

103.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 ¥6.51

$1.24 ¥8.38

-22.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.96

$0.51 ¥3.47

43.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.22

$0.61 ¥4.15

50.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 ¥2.65

$0.41 ¥2.75

-4.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ¥3.30

$0.63 ¥4.30

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 ¥20.42

$3.22 ¥21.78

-6.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 ¥69.9

$16.71 ¥113

-38.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ¥4.65

$0.72 ¥4.87

-4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ¥11.00

$0.95 ¥6.42

70.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ¥2.01

$0.37 ¥2.48

-18.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.20 ¥89.4

$11.72 ¥79.4

12.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ¥9.14

$1.28 ¥8.65

5.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.91

$0.28 ¥1.90

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ¥18.34

$3.45 ¥23.35

-21.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥7.85

$1.14 ¥7.75

1.75%

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

$15.4K ¥104.2K

$18.1K ¥122.5K

-14.96%

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

$17.4K ¥117.7K

$18.8K ¥127.5K

-7.67%

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

$44.68 ¥303

$66.5 ¥451

-32.85%

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

$11.47 ¥77.7

$14.49 ¥98.1

-20.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.22 ¥123

$13.72 ¥92.9

32.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.78 ¥263

$20.58 ¥139

88.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.10 ¥95.5

$6.21 ¥42.05

127.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 ¥43.53

$4.82 ¥32.67

33.40%

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

$230 ¥1,560

$466 ¥3,156

-50.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.9K ¥94.0K

$25.0K ¥169.5K

-44.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 ¥313

$48.92 ¥331

-5.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.00 ¥176

$31.25 ¥212

-16.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 ¥478

$73.8 ¥500

-4.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.0 ¥467

$78.4 ¥531

-11.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ¥1,931

$231 ¥1,562

23.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ¥1,384

$145 ¥985

40.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 ¥5,715

$510 ¥3,453

65.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 ¥3,196

$328 ¥2,220

43.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,967 ¥20.1K

$2,285 ¥15.5K

29.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 ¥10.8K

$1,313 ¥8,895

21.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,140 ¥7,722

$1,089 ¥7,377

4.68%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Shenyang: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Changzhou and $231 in Shenyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Changzhou pays 5% 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: $27.00 in Changzhou vs $21.00 in Shenyang. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $200, 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 Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Changzhou pays 5% more on average, 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: $285 in Changzhou versus $231 in Shenyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Changzhou pay roughly 15% 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 $27.00 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 8% less than in Changzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.