City Comparison
Dalian vs Schenectady
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Dalian scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Dalian
Schenectady
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Dalian is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
74% lower compared to Schenectady.
Housing costs are a major driver: Dalian's average rent is
72% lower than Schenectady's.
| Metric | Dalian | Schenectady | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $403 | $1,425 | -72% |
| Groceries | $239 | $442 | -46% |
| Utilities | $65 | $323 | -80% |
| Transport | $98 | $899 | -89% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $805 | $3,089 | -74% |
| Cost Index | 25 | 99 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Schenectady offers 76% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Schenectady delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Dalian is estimated at
$12,000 vs $70,000 in Schenectady.
| Metric | Dalian | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $13,224 | $55,374 |
| Salary Needed | $12,000 | $70,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 52,896 idx | 55,933 idx |
| Household Income | $7,548 | $58,399 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Dalian | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 66.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Schenectady has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Dalian.
Dalian scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Dalian leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Dalian | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 75.0/10 | 50.0/10 |
| Walkability | 70.0/10 | 60.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 66.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Dalian is the larger city
— approximately 108.9x the population of Schenectady.
From a growth perspective, Dalian is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Dalian | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,500,000 | 68,847 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.87% | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 40.6 | 36.1 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $11.3B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Dalian
Advantages
Robust industrial base in petrochemicals, automotive, shipbuilding, and high-tech sectors, fostering economic growth and job opportunities.
Recognized as a national innovation city and a benchmark for international business environment, attracting foreign investment and fostering a dynamic business climate.
High quality of life with an appealing urban environment, well-developed infrastructure, and consistently good air quality for over 315 days annually.
A vibrant coastal city offering pleasant summers, scenic beaches, diverse cultural experiences, and a range of outdoor activities.
Serves as a crucial international comprehensive transportation hub with a deep-water port and extensive global shipping connections.
Drawbacks
While public transport is strong, traffic congestion can still be a challenge in certain areas, impacting commute times.
Winters are notably cold and windy, requiring substantial warm clothing for outdoor activities.
Air quality, while generally good, can experience periods of moderate to poor pollution.
Limited specific data for certain economic and social metrics (e.g., median household income, job growth rate) from recent years makes detailed analysis challenging.
The reliability of some crowd-sourced data, such as traffic and transportation habits, may be affected by a low number of contributors.
Schenectady
Advantages
Exceptional Livability Score of 78/100 [22].
Cost of living is 18% lower than the New York State average [22].
Median sale price of homes increased by 6.2% year-over-year as of June 2026 [25].
Revitalized downtown area with growing tech firms and cultural attractions [41].
Schenectady County experienced a 5% GDP growth in 2023 [8].
Drawbacks
High crime rates, with a safety grade of 'F' and violent crime rates significantly above national averages [8, 22].
Homeownership rate (45.6%) is lower than the national average (65.2%) [3].
Median household income ($58,399) is lower than the national average.
Moderate public transit score of 50/100 [27].
Higher than average transportation costs (5% higher than national average) [21].
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Dalian
#4Liaoning, China
88.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$403
Avg Salary
$13,224
Cost Index
25
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
75.0/10
Walkability
70.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.87%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
75
Business
70
Schenectady
#164New York, USA
38.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,425
Avg Salary
$55,374
Cost Index
99
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
50.0/10
Walkability
60.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
78
Business
65
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Dalian and Schenectady.
Open Cost Calculator