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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Shenyang costs roughly 1% less than in Changzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.88 ¥19.35

$3.01 ¥20.18

-4.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.21 ¥149

$28.60 ¥192

-22.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.17 ¥34.68

$4.56 ¥30.62

13.38%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ¥15.96

$2.11 ¥14.19

12.80%

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

$0.46 ¥3.09

$0.38 ¥2.57

21.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ¥2.56

$0.23 ¥1.54

65.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ¥5.71

$0.57 ¥3.84

49.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ¥12.70

$1.45 ¥9.75

30.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ¥13.28

$1.93 ¥12.94

2.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 ¥16.26

$1.28 ¥8.57

89.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ¥7.07

$0.96 ¥6.43

9.38%

Eggs

$1.01 ¥6.76

$1.63 ¥10.91

-38.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ¥50.5

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.88 ¥19.36

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.67 ¥78.3

$12.37 ¥83.0

-5.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 ¥11.78

$2.11 ¥14.16

-16.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ¥8.21

$1.73 ¥11.59

-29.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 ¥13.74

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ¥9.89

$1.09 ¥7.30

34.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ¥5.83

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.23

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ¥3.82

$0.42 ¥2.79

35.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ¥4.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.65 ¥24.47

$3.26 ¥21.84

11.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.40 ¥110

$10.49 ¥70.4

56.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ¥4.72

$0.93 ¥6.26

-24.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ¥7.63

$1.59 ¥10.67

-28.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ¥2.60

$0.35 ¥2.32

11.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.57 ¥84.4

$14.09 ¥94.5

-10.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ¥8.91

$1.47 ¥9.83

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ¥1.92

$0.31 ¥2.09

-6.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 ¥19.77

$2.86 ¥19.17

3.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥8.46

$1.26 ¥8.47

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

$19.3K ¥129.4K

$17.3K ¥115.9K

11.69%

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

$18.2K ¥122.1K

$13.9K ¥93.5K

30.64%

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

$75.2 ¥504

$63.2 ¥424

19.01%

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

$15.36 ¥103

$8.63 ¥57.9

77.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.99 ¥101

$10.42 ¥69.9

43.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.18 ¥149

$40.42 ¥271

-45.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.63 ¥71.3

$15.00 ¥101

-29.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 ¥40.76

$4.55 ¥30.55

33.41%

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

$553 ¥3,709

$252 ¥1,691

119.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ¥147.5K

$14.9K ¥99.7K

47.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.90 ¥281

$48.92 ¥328

-14.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.76 ¥186

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.4 ¥398

$73.1 ¥491

-18.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 ¥468

$75.1 ¥504

-7.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ¥1,792

$284 ¥1,906

-5.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ¥1,607

$232 ¥1,555

3.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 ¥3,809

$918 ¥6,158

-38.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$404 ¥2,707

$503 ¥3,378

-19.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,312 ¥15.5K

$2,950 ¥19.8K

-21.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,323 ¥8,874

$1,603 ¥10.8K

-17.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,111 ¥7,453

$1,067 ¥7,157

4.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.37

3.35

30.45%

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

Last update for Shenyang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Changzhou: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Shenyang and $284 in Changzhou. 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: $22.00 in Shenyang vs $29.00 in Changzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $194 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

Shenyang vs Changzhou: 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.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Shenyang, 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: $267 in Shenyang versus $284 in Changzhou. 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.