City Comparison
Anshan vs Bay City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Anshan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Anshan
Bay City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Anshan is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
67% lower than in Bay City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Anshan's average rent is
75% lower than Bay City's.
| Metric | Anshan | Bay City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $241 | $950 | -75% |
| Groceries | $152 | $380 | -60% |
| Utilities | $125 | $175 | -29% |
| Transport | $50 | $110 | -55% |
| Healthcare | $50 | $230 | -78% |
| Monthly Total | $618 | $1,845 | -67% |
| Cost Index | 35 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Bay City offers 78% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Bay City delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Anshan is estimated at
$8,700 vs $42,000 in Bay City.
| Metric | Anshan | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $11,208 | $52,000 |
| Salary Needed | $8,700 | $42,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 32,023 idx | 61,176 idx |
| Household Income | $11,088 | $48,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Bay City runs warmer on average — a 48.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Bay City comes out ahead with 258 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Bay City sees 34.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Anshan | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 48.80°F |
| Summer High | °F | 79.90°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 16.80°F |
| Rainfall | in | 29.50 in |
| Snowfall | in | 34.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 258 | |
| Humidity | 55.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bay City has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,500 minutes (75 hours) per year compared to Anshan.
Anshan scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Anshan leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Anshan | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 30 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 60.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | 55.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 50.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Anshan is the larger city
— approximately 47x the population of Bay City.
From a growth perspective, Anshan is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Anshan has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Anshan | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,531,601 | 32,611 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.56% | — |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 41.5 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 5.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Bay City
Advantages
Median home prices in Bay City are significantly lower than the national average per recent housing market data.
Abundant waterfront access along the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay supports a strong boating and outdoor recreation culture.
Rich architectural heritage featuring expansive historic districts with preserved 19th-century Victorian homes.
Low overall cost of living indices allow residents to enjoy greater financial affordability on everyday goods and utilities.
Active downtown district featuring local dining, craft beverage makers, and community festivals.
Drawbacks
Cold, snowy winters require residents to adapt to significant seasonal snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Limited public transit infrastructure creates a high reliance on personal automobiles for daily transportation.
Job growth in certain traditional sectors has lagged behind larger metropolitan areas in Michigan.
Higher poverty rates in specific city neighborhoods compared to the broader suburban county areas.
Cooler spring and autumn shoulder seasons shorten the peak window for outdoor activities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Anshan
#24Liaoning, China
66.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$241
Avg Salary
$11,208
Cost Index
35
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
60.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.56%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
68
Business
60
Bay City
#401Michigan, USA
58.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
258/yr
Avg Temp
48.80°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
72
Business
65
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Anshan and Bay City.
Open Cost Calculator