Performance
Score Breakdown
Shijiazhuang
Akron
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Shijiazhuang is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
76% lower compared to Akron.
Housing costs are a major driver: Shijiazhuang's average rent is
79% lower than Akron's.
| Metric | Shijiazhuang | Akron | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $237 | $1,123 | -79% |
| Groceries | $250 | $742 | -66% |
| Utilities | $70 | $234 | -70% |
| Transport | $20 | $357 | -94% |
| Healthcare | $50 | $130 | -62% |
| Monthly Total | $627 | $2,586 | -76% |
| Cost Index | 25 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Akron offers 87% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Akron delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Shijiazhuang is estimated at
$9,000 vs $66,000 in Akron.
| Metric | Shijiazhuang | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $9,729 | $73,000 |
| Salary Needed | $9,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 38,916 idx | 85,882 idx |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Shijiazhuang | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 70.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Akron has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
6,500 minutes (108 hours) per year compared to Shijiazhuang.
Shijiazhuang scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Shijiazhuang leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Shijiazhuang | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 35 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 65.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Walkability | 55.0/10 | 48.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Shijiazhuang is the larger city
— approximately 59.3x the population of Akron.
From a growth perspective, Shijiazhuang is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Akron has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Shijiazhuang | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,246,900 | 189,664 |
| Pop. Growth | % | % |
| Median Age | 36.9 | |
| Unemployment | 4.62% | 3.80% |
| GDP | $128.7B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Shijiazhuang
Advantages
Strategic industrial development in biomedicine, new-generation electronic information, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Extensive and developing public transportation network, including metro and bus systems.
Relatively low cost of living, particularly for housing, compared to many major cities.
High perceived safety with very low crime rates reported.
Significant economic growth, with the city's GDP reaching $128.69 billion USD in 2025.
Drawbacks
Average monthly net salary is relatively low at approximately $811 USD.
Nominal residential property price growth has seen declines in early 2026.
Historically, air pollution has been a concern, though recent data is not available.
Limited specific data available for certain metrics like unemployment rate and median age.
Summers can be hot and humid, and winters freezing and dry.
Akron
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Akron is 15% lower than the national average, making it a highly affordable city.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, with average monthly rent at $1,123 and median home prices around $153,000.
Akron has a diverse economy with strong industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and the polymer sector.
The city offers a public transportation system (METRO RTA) with affordable monthly passes at $50.
Healthcare costs in Akron are approximately 14% lower than the national average.
Drawbacks
Akron has a high crime rate, with an overall crime rate 50% above the national average and a safety grade of C-.
The city is experiencing a projected population decline of -0.9% annually.
Akron has a negative job growth rate, with a 0.461% decline in employed population in 2024.
The lifestyle in Akron is largely car-dependent, with most errands requiring a vehicle and an average Walk Score of 48.
The median household income of $48,076 in 2024 is below the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Shijiazhuang
#5Hebei, China
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$237
Avg Salary
$9,729
Cost Index
25
Commute
35 min
Transit Score
65.0/10
Walkability
55.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.62%
Livability
65
Business
70
Akron
#98Ohio, USA
60.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,123
Avg Salary
$73,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
65
Business
55
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