Performance
Score Breakdown
Shenyang
Anshan
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Anshan is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
39% higher compared to Shenyang.
Housing costs are a major driver: Shenyang's average rent is
12% higher than Anshan's.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anshan | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $271 | $241 | +12% |
| Groceries | $350 | $152 | +130% |
| Utilities | $89 | $125 | -29% |
| Transport | $50 | $50 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $100 | $50 | +100% |
| Monthly Total | $860 | $618 | +39% |
| Cost Index | 45 | 35 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Shenyang offers 56% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Shenyang delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Shenyang is estimated at
$15,000 vs $8,700 in Anshan.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anshan |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $17,510 | $11,208 |
| Salary Needed | $15,000 | $8,700 |
| Purchasing Power | 38,911 idx | 32,023 idx |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anshan |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 65.00% | 55.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Shenyang scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Shenyang leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Shenyang | Anshan |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 30 min |
| Transit Score | 80.0/10 | 60.0/10 |
| Walkability | 65.0/10 | 55.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Shenyang is the larger city
— approximately 6.1x the population of Anshan.
From a growth perspective, Anshan 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 | Anshan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,276,000 | 1,531,601 |
| Pop. Growth | % | 0.56% |
| Median Age | 32.0 | |
| 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.
Anshan
Advantages
Anshan boasts a significantly low cost of living, with monthly expenses for a single person around $622 including rent, making it highly affordable compared to global averages.
The city is a major industrial powerhouse, particularly in steel production, with Ansteel being a global leader, providing substantial employment opportunities.
Anshan is exceptionally rich in mineral resources, including vast reserves of iron ore, magnesite, talcum, and jade, supporting a strong mining sector.
The city has been recognized for its urban quality, holding titles such as Nationally Recognized Civilized City, Clean City, Forest City, and Garden City.
Public transportation is very economical, with a monthly pass costing approximately $17.57, contributing to overall affordability.
Drawbacks
The prefecture-level city experienced a population decrease between 2010 and 2020, indicating potential demographic challenges.
The average monthly net salary of around $934 is lower than the national GDP per capita, suggesting relatively modest income levels.
Anshan's climate features hot, humid summers and cold, arid winters, which might not appeal to everyone.
Specific, up-to-date data for certain city metrics like unemployment rate and detailed economic growth figures are not readily available, making comprehensive analysis challenging.
While efforts are made to reduce pollution, the heavy industrial focus of the city could still pose environmental considerations.
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
Anshan
#14Liaoning, China
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$241
Avg Salary
$11,208
Cost Index
35
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
60.0/10
Walkability
55.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.56%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
68
Business
60
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