😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $658 in Shenyang versus $647 in Bandung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,080 in Shenyang versus $949 in Bandung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,503 in Shenyang versus $1,251 in Bandung.
😐Living in Shenyang is roughly 2% more expensive than Bandung, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Shenyang51% lower, Bandung52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85¥19.24
$1.28Rp 22.8K
122.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.79¥141
$9.42Rp 168.2K
120.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78¥32.30
$3.43Rp 61.3K
39.36%
Cappuccino
$2.70¥18.23
$1.44Rp 25.7K
87.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45¥3.05
$0.49Rp 8,684
-8.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38¥2.55
$0.25Rp 4,435
52.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.87¥5.87
$3.28Rp 58.6K
-73.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03¥13.74
$3.57Rp 63.7K
-43.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94¥13.09
$1.18Rp 21.1K
64.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89¥12.77
$1.07Rp 19.2K
76.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99¥6.72
$0.94Rp 16.8K
5.32%
Eggs
$1.09¥7.39
$1.58Rp 28.1K
-31.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.52¥64.4
$9.33Rp 166.6K
2.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92¥19.76
$3.02Rp 54.0K
-3.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.09¥81.8
$7.92Rp 141.5K
52.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40¥9.44
$2.37Rp 42.2K
-40.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02¥6.92
$1.33Rp 23.8K
-23.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.81¥5.49
$1.69Rp 30.2K
-52.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24¥8.36
$1.52Rp 27.1K
-18.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51¥3.46
$1.48Rp 26.4K
-65.54%
Onion(1kg)
$0.61¥4.14
$2.67Rp 47.6K
-77.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41¥2.75
$0.96Rp 17.2K
-57.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63¥4.29
$0.46Rp 8,203
36.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22¥21.74
$2.57Rp 45.8K
25.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.71¥113
$22.35Rp 399.2K
-25.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72¥4.86
$2.10Rp 37.5K
-65.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95¥6.41
$3.49Rp 62.3K
-72.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37¥2.47
$0.30Rp 5,342
23.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72¥79.2
$10.57Rp 188.8K
10.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28¥8.64
$0.76Rp 13.6K
68.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28¥1.90
$0.71Rp 12.6K
-60.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.45¥23.31
$2.59Rp 46.2K
33.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.73
$0.81Rp 14.4K
40.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K¥122.3K
$24.4KRp 435.3M
-25.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K¥127.2K
$26.4KRp 471.5M
-28.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.5¥450
$43.12Rp 770.0K
54.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.49¥98.0
$4.52Rp 80.8K
220.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.72¥92.8
$22.94Rp 409.7K
-40.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.58¥139
$21.48Rp 383.6K
-4.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.21¥41.98
$6.62Rp 118.3K
-6.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.82¥32.62
$3.16Rp 56.4K
52.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$466¥3,151
$94.4Rp 1.7M
393.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.0K¥169.3K
$7,577Rp 135.3M
230.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.92¥331
$41.84Rp 747.3K
16.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.25¥211
$30.57Rp 545.8K
2.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.8¥499
$59.2Rp 1.1M
24.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4¥530
$63.7Rp 1.1M
22.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$231¥1,560
$234Rp 4.2M
-1.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$145¥983
$156Rp 2.8M
-6.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$510¥3,448
$447Rp 8.0M
14.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328¥2,216
$247Rp 4.4M
32.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,285¥15.5K
$723Rp 12.9M
215.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,313¥8,880
$309Rp 5.5M
325.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,089¥7,365
$284Rp 5.1M
284.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
9.15
-42.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shenyang: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bandung: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $231 in Shenyang and $234 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shenyang pays 284% 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: $21.00 in Shenyang vs $9.00 in Bandung. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $215, 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
Shenyang vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Shenyang or Bandung?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 2% 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 Shenyang or Bandung?
Shenyang pays 284% more on average, 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 Shenyang vs Bandung?
Rent for a central apartment: $231 in Shenyang versus $234 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Shenyang or Bandung?
Shoppers in Shenyang pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Shenyang vs Bandung?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $21.00 in Shenyang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Shenyang or 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, Shenyang or Bandung?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $647 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandung hard to pass up.
How safe is Shenyang compared to Bandung?
Safety-wise, Shenyang 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 2% less than in Shenyang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.