😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Shenyang versus $644 in Bandung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,062 in Shenyang versus $939 in Bandung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,400 in Shenyang versus $1,234 in Bandung.
🌍Living in Shenyang is roughly 12% more expensive than in Bandung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Shenyang47% lower, Bandung53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.88¥19.35
$1.39Rp 24.7K
107.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.21¥149
$14.39Rp 255.0K
54.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.17¥34.68
$3.31Rp 58.7K
56.19%
Cappuccino
$2.38¥15.96
$1.57Rp 27.8K
51.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.10
$0.42Rp 7,438
9.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38¥2.56
$0.25Rp 4,461
52.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.85¥5.71
$3.15Rp 55.9K
-73.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89¥12.70
$3.02Rp 53.6K
-37.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98¥13.28
$1.12Rp 19.9K
76.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42¥16.26
$1.00Rp 17.7K
142.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05¥7.07
$0.82Rp 14.5K
28.05%
Eggs
$1.01¥6.76
$1.49Rp 26.4K
-32.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$7.31Rp 129.6K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.00Rp 53.2K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.67¥78.3
$8.16Rp 144.5K
43.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76¥11.78
$2.27Rp 40.3K
-22.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22¥8.22
$1.08Rp 19.1K
12.96%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.55Rp 27.4K
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47¥9.89
$0.97Rp 17.2K
51.55%
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.09Rp 19.4K
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57¥3.82
$0.69Rp 12.3K
-17.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68¥4.59
$0.44Rp 7,748
54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.65¥24.48
$2.66Rp 47.2K
37.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.40¥110
$22.71Rp 402.5K
-27.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70¥4.72
$1.84Rp 32.6K
-61.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14¥7.63
$3.31Rp 58.7K
-65.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39¥2.60
$0.29Rp 5,209
34.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.57¥84.4
$9.46Rp 167.6K
32.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33¥8.91
$0.87Rp 15.5K
52.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29¥1.92
$0.52Rp 9,204
-44.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95¥19.77
$2.29Rp 40.5K
28.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.46
$0.78Rp 13.9K
61.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K¥129.4K
$21.2KRp 375.4M
-8.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K¥122.1K
$29.5KRp 523.7M
-38.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.2¥505
$34.35Rp 608.8K
118.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.36¥103
$4.29Rp 76.0K
258.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.99¥101
$19.31Rp 342.2K
-22.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.18¥149
$18.65Rp 330.6K
18.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.63¥71.4
$5.80Rp 102.8K
83.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.07¥40.76
$2.86Rp 50.7K
112.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$553¥3,709
$97.1Rp 1.7M
469.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.0K¥147.5K
$8,509Rp 150.8M
158.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.90¥281
$38.89Rp 689.2K
7.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$33.08Rp 586.2K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.4¥398
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-22.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.8¥468
$70.4Rp 1.2M
-0.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$267¥1,793
$219Rp 3.9M
22.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$240¥1,607
$183Rp 3.2M
31.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$568¥3,809
$385Rp 6.8M
47.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$404¥2,708
$268Rp 4.7M
50.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,312¥15.5K
$718Rp 12.7M
222.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,323¥8,875
$310Rp 5.5M
326.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shenyang
Bandung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,111¥7,454
$285Rp 5.1M
289.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.37
11.38
-61.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shenyang: August 30, 2026
Last update for Bandung: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Shenyang and $219 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shenyang pays 289% 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: $22.00 in Shenyang vs $14.00 in Bandung. Groceries flip the comparison at $160 vs $197, 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 12% 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 in Bandung?
Average pay runs 289% higher in Shenyang, 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 compared to Bandung?
Rent for a central apartment: $267 in Shenyang versus $219 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Shenyang or in Bandung?
Shoppers in Shenyang pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Shenyang and in Bandung?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $22.00 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 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, Shenyang or Bandung?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $644 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 12% less than in Shenyang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.