Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and China
For one person, living is cheaper in China: $784 a month against $1,387 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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Almaty Living Index66Cost of Living Index in AlmatyLearn more -
China Living Index39Cost of Living Index in ChinaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Almaty is 56.4% more expensive than China without rent, and 77% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Almaty is 61.3% more expensive than China without rent, and 64.5% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.31 ₸6,034
$2.90 ¥19.39
358.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 ₸19.7K
$22.02 ¥147
96.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 ₸3,988
$5.20 ¥34.74
69.23%
Cappuccino
$3.30 ₸1,497
$3.04 ¥20.31
8.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 ₸620
$0.52 ¥3.45
163.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₸409
$0.28 ¥1.85
221.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 ₸1,419
$1.01 ¥6.75
209.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 ₸1,860
$2.19 ¥14.64
87.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ₸754
$1.75 ¥11.71
-5.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 ₸406
$1.64 ¥10.96
-45.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 ₸933
$0.92 ¥6.12
123.91%
Eggs
$2.37 ₸1,074
$1.59 ¥10.66
49.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.64 ₸5,730
$12.99 ¥86.8
-2.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.62 ₸3,000
$3.35 ¥22.38
97.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.87 ₸4,928
$11.18 ¥74.7
-2.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ₸845
$1.80 ¥12.02
3.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 ₸1,075
$1.31 ¥8.78
80.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 ₸1,358
$1.47 ¥9.80
103.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.83 ₸1,282
$1.32 ¥8.79
114.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ₸347
$0.76 ¥5.07
1.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 ₸264
$0.92 ¥6.15
-36.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 ₸723
$0.59 ¥3.94
169.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸449
$0.54 ¥3.63
83.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54 ₸1,153
$3.79 ¥25.34
-32.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 ₸5,005
$12.14 ¥81.1
-9.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸550
$0.82 ¥5.48
47.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₸1,093
$1.63 ¥10.92
47.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₸113
$0.29 ¥1.93
-13.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.84 ₸9,901
$22.33 ¥149
-2.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 ₸581
$1.53 ¥10.24
-16.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸291
$0.35 ¥2.31
82.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.74 ₸4,870
$7.00 ¥46.79
53.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.69 ₸314
$1.31 ¥8.77
-47.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K ₸10.1M
$19.0K ¥127.1K
17.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K ₸13.3M
$17.0K ¥113.7K
72.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.8 ₸39.8K
$54.1 ¥362
62.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.83 ₸4,909
$8.42 ¥56.3
28.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ₸7,887
$10.72 ¥71.6
62.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 ₸31.6K
$40.72 ¥272
71.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.58 ₸12.1K
$14.58 ¥97.4
82.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68 ₸3,031
$6.76 ¥45.15
-1.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$446 ₸202.2K
$462 ¥3,089
-3.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₸5.4M
$19.6K ¥131.0K
-39.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.7 ₸42.5K
$45.57 ¥305
105.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.91 ₸21.3K
$36.05 ¥241
30.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 ₸64.7K
$75.4 ¥504
89.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸60.5K
$79.0 ¥528
68.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$773 ₸350.6K
$386 ¥2,577
100.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$497 ₸225.5K
$240 ¥1,601
107.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,390 ₸630.4K
$843 ¥5,637
64.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$880 ₸398.9K
$461 ¥3,083
90.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,546 ₸1.2M
$4,590 ¥30.7K
-44.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,506 ₸683.0K
$2,279 ¥15.2K
-33.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$834 ₸377.9K
$1,060 ¥7,082
-21.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
3.46
496.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almaty: October 5, 2026
Last update for China: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty $497 36.4%
China $240 30.1% 51.8% $258
Groceries & Markets
Almaty $251 18.4%
China $207 26.1% 17.5% $44
Eating Out
Almaty $205 15%
China $88 11.1% 57.2% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty $188 13.7%
China $106 13.4% 43.4% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty $116 8.5%
China $73 9.2% 36.8% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty $83 6.1%
China $54 6.8% 34.7% $29
Getting Around
Almaty $27 2%
China $27 3.4% 2.1% $0.6
Accommodation & Living
Almaty $880 30.5%
China $461 26.9% 47.6% $418
Groceries & Markets
Almaty $577 20%
China $477 27.8% 17.5% $101
Eating Out
Almaty $635 22%
China $283 16.5% 55.4% $352
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty $417 14.5%
China $236 13.8% 43.4% $181
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty $127 4.4%
China $82 4.8% 35.6% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty $193 6.7%
China $123 7.2% 36.1% $70
Getting Around
Almaty $55 1.9%
China $54 3.2% 2% $1.1
Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇨🇳 China
Weather
Population
1,475,400
1,442,965,000
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Almaty China 3,270 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
- Almaty
- China
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Almaty vs other spots: cost of living compared
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,387
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,387
/mo nomad
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$906
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,387
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,387
/mo nomad
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,405
/mo nomad
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