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Dalian
Liaoning, China
#1 in China
72
Overall Score
VS
Toledo
Ohio, USA
#69 in USA
68
Overall Score
Dalian scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Dalian
Toledo
Livability
75
68
Affordability
65
85
Business
70
75
Growth
75
60

Cost of Living

Dalian is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 59% lower compared to Toledo. Housing costs are a major driver: Dalian's average rent is 58% lower than Toledo's.
MetricDalianToledoDiff
Average Rent
$403$950-58%
Groceries
$239$342-30%
Utilities
$65$295-78%
Transport
$98$180-46%
Healthcare
$0$200-100%
Monthly Total
$805$1,967-59%
Cost Index
2595out of 100

Salary & Income

Toledo offers 81% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Toledo delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Dalian is estimated at $12,000 vs $52,000 in Toledo.
MetricDalianToledo
Average Salary
$13,224$71,000
Salary Needed
$12,000$52,000
Purchasing Power
52,896 idx74,737 idx
Household Income
$7,548$49,724

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricDalianToledo
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
%70.00%

Commute & Transport

Toledo has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 3,500 minutes (58 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.
MetricDalianToledo
Commute Time
27 min20 min
Transit Score
75.0/1045.0/10
Walkability
70.0/1046.0/10
Traffic Index
66.0050.00
Car Dependency
MediumHigh

Economy & Demographics

Dalian is the larger city — approximately 28x the population of Toledo. From a growth perspective, Dalian is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Toledo has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricDalianToledo
Population
7,500,000267,463
Pop. Growth
1.87%%
Median Age
40.635.8
Unemployment
5.00%4.40%
GDP
$0.0B$0.0B

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.
Toledo
Advantages
Toledo offers a significantly affordable cost of living, approximately 5% lower than the national average.
The city boasts a thriving arts and cultural scene, highlighted by the world-class Toledo Museum of Art.
Residents have excellent access to nature and outdoor recreation through the extensive Metroparks system, the Maumee River, and Lake Erie.
Toledo has seen significant economic development and business investment, ranking among the top 10 nationally in 2024.
The average commute time in Toledo is relatively short at 19.8 minutes, easing daily travel for residents.
Drawbacks
Toledo has a high violent crime rate, which is significantly above the national average.
The city experiences harsh winters with cold temperatures and notable snowfall.
Toledo's infrastructure, particularly its roads, is often cited as being in poor condition.
Job opportunities in some high-growth sectors may be limited compared to larger metropolitan areas.
Public transportation options in Toledo are considered limited, leading to high car dependency for most errands.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Dalian
#1
Liaoning, China
72.0 / 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
View Full Profile
Toledo
#69
Ohio, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
45.0/10
Walkability
46.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.40%
Livability
68
Business
75
View Full Profile

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