Performance
Score Breakdown
Shenyang
Anda
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Anda is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
12% higher compared to Shenyang.
Housing costs are a major driver: Shenyang's average rent is
69% higher than Anda's.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anda | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $271 | $160 | +69% |
| Groceries | $350 | $380 | -8% |
| Utilities | $89 | $90 | -1% |
| Transport | $50 | $40 | +25% |
| Healthcare | $100 | $100 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $860 | $770 | +12% |
| Cost Index | 45 | 35 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Shenyang offers 17% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Anda delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Shenyang is estimated at
$15,000 vs $12,000 in Anda.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anda |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $17,510 | $15,000 |
| Salary Needed | $15,000 | $12,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 38,911 idx | 42,857 idx |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anda |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 65.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Anda has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Shenyang.
Shenyang scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anda |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 80.0/10 | 50.0/10 |
| Walkability | 65.0/10 | 65.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Shenyang is the larger city
— approximately 20.8x the population of Anda.
From a growth perspective, Shenyang is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Shenyang has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anda |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,276,000 | 446,609 |
| Pop. Growth | % | % |
| Median Age | 40.0 | |
| Unemployment | 4.62% | 5.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Shenyang
Advantages
Shenyang boasts a very affordable cost of living, ranking among the least expensive cities globally.
The city has an extensive and efficient public transportation network, including a metro and tram system, with 100% urban coverage by bus stops.
Shenyang has been consistently recognized as one of China's happiest cities for three consecutive years, including 2024.
The city has a robust industrial foundation with trillion-yuan clusters in advanced manufacturing, robotics, and automotive sectors.
Shenyang is actively enhancing its public service system for foreigners, including international hospitals and schools.
Drawbacks
Winters in Shenyang are known to be long and very cold.
While overall crime rates are low, Numbeo indicates a moderate problem with corruption and bribery.
The city's property market, like the national trend, has faced challenges with declines in investment and transaction volume in recent years.
Specific recent data for certain demographic metrics like median age and unemployment rate for Shenyang are not readily available.
Despite overall safety, isolated incidents of violent crime have been reported, such as a knife-related assault in July 2024.
Anda
Advantages
Significantly lower cost of living compared to major Chinese cities and Western countries.
Strong agricultural base, particularly in forage and dairy industries, providing stable local employment.
Generally high level of public safety, typical of smaller Chinese urban centers.
Affordable housing market with rents considerably lower than national averages for larger cities.
Access to local medical facilities and part of a growing provincial healthcare network.
Drawbacks
Population decline trend, mirroring the broader Heilongjiang province and Northeast China.
Limited specific data on job growth, potentially indicating slower economic dynamism compared to coastal hubs.
Extremely cold and long winters, which may not appeal to all residents.
Fewer high-tech or emerging industry opportunities compared to China's innovation centers.
Less diverse entertainment and cultural options compared to larger metropolitan areas.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Shenyang
#2Liaoning, China
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$271
Avg Salary
$17,510
Cost Index
45
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
80.0/10
Walkability
65.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.62%
Livability
74
Business
68
Anda
#18Heilongjiang, China
62.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$160
Avg Salary
$15,000
Cost Index
35
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
50.0/10
Walkability
65.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
65
Business
55
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