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: $658 in Shenyang versus $708 in Changzhou.

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

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

Living in Shenyang costs roughly 7% less than in Changzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 ¥19.27

$2.84 ¥19.24

0.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.79 ¥141

$26.70 ¥181

-22.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ¥32.35

$4.24 ¥28.74

12.74%

Cappuccino

$2.70 ¥18.26

$2.95 ¥20.00

-8.47%

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

$0.45 ¥3.06

$0.48 ¥3.22

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ¥2.55

$0.25 ¥1.68

52.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.87 ¥5.88

$0.69 ¥4.66

26.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥13.77

$1.42 ¥9.64

42.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 ¥13.11

$1.99 ¥13.49

-2.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 ¥12.80

$1.27 ¥8.61

48.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ¥6.73

$0.93 ¥6.30

6.45%

Eggs

$1.09 ¥7.41

$1.80 ¥12.18

-39.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 ¥64.5

$6.80 ¥46.08

40.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 ¥19.80

$2.41 ¥16.33

21.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.09 ¥81.9

$9.43 ¥63.9

28.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 ¥9.46

$1.77 ¥12.00

-20.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ¥6.93

$1.79 ¥12.11

-43.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 ¥5.50

$1.65 ¥11.16

-50.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 ¥8.38

$0.96 ¥6.51

29.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 ¥3.47

$0.73 ¥4.96

-30.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ¥4.15

$0.92 ¥6.22

-33.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 ¥2.75

$0.39 ¥2.65

5.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ¥4.30

$0.49 ¥3.30

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ¥21.78

$3.01 ¥20.42

6.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.71 ¥113

$10.32 ¥69.9

61.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥4.87

$0.69 ¥4.65

4.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 ¥6.42

$1.62 ¥11.00

-41.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ¥2.48

$0.30 ¥2.01

23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ¥79.4

$13.20 ¥89.4

-11.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 ¥8.65

$1.35 ¥9.14

-5.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.90

$0.28 ¥1.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 ¥23.35

$2.71 ¥18.34

27.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ¥7.75

$1.16 ¥7.85

-1.72%

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

$18.1K ¥122.5K

$15.4K ¥104.2K

17.59%

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

$18.8K ¥127.5K

$17.4K ¥117.7K

8.31%

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

$66.5 ¥451

$44.68 ¥303

48.93%

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

$14.49 ¥98.1

$11.47 ¥77.7

26.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.72 ¥92.9

$18.22 ¥123

-24.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.58 ¥139

$38.78 ¥263

-46.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.21 ¥42.05

$14.10 ¥95.5

-55.96%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 ¥32.67

$6.43 ¥43.53

-25.04%

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

$466 ¥3,156

$230 ¥1,560

102.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K ¥169.5K

$13.9K ¥94.0K

80.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.92 ¥331

$46.28 ¥313

5.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.25 ¥212

$26.00 ¥176

20.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 ¥500

$70.6 ¥478

4.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 ¥531

$69.0 ¥467

13.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$231 ¥1,562

$285 ¥1,931

-19.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$145 ¥985

$204 ¥1,384

-28.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$510 ¥3,453

$844 ¥5,715

-39.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ¥2,220

$472 ¥3,196

-30.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,285 ¥15.5K

$2,967 ¥20.1K

-23.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,313 ¥8,895

$1,597 ¥10.8K

-17.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,089 ¥7,377

$1,140 ¥7,722

-4.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.27

3.35

57.31%

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

Last update for Shenyang: June 1, 2026

Last update for Changzhou: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $231 in Shenyang and $285 in Changzhou. 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: $21.00 in Shenyang vs $27.00 in Changzhou. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $174, 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

Shenyang vs Changzhou: 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.

On paper, Changzhou earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $231 in Shenyang versus $285 in Changzhou. 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.