Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Weihai

For one person, living is cheaper in Weihai: $625 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Weihai
🇨🇳 China
$625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Almaty and in Weihai

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Almaty and in Weihai actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,372 per month in Almaty vs $625 in Weihai, rent included.

  • Almaty $1,372
  • Weihai $625

A couple spends around $2,142 per month in Almaty vs $949 in Weihai, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,142
  • Weihai $949

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Almaty vs $1,273 in Weihai, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,913
  • Weihai $1,273

Almaty costs about 120% more than Weihai, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Almaty sits 2% above the global median, while Weihai is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 ₸5,939
$2.64 ¥17.69
398.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.86 ₸20.2K
$16.28 ¥109
175.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ₸4,015
$4.60 ¥30.79
93.48%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ₸1,466
$2.77 ¥18.55
17.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ₸638
$0.50 ¥3.35
182.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₸398
$0.30 ¥2.00
193.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 ₸1,510
$1.10 ¥7.37
204.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 ₸1,824
$2.54 ¥16.97
59.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₸761
$1.30 ¥8.71
30.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₸390
$1.41 ¥9.43
-39.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ₸916
$0.98 ¥6.57
107.14%
Eggs
$2.43 ₸1,098
$0.94 ¥6.26
158.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.46 ₸5,623
$10.45 ¥69.9
19.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 ₸3,028
$3.79 ¥25.34
77.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ₸4,896
$9.99 ¥66.8
8.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ₸812
$1.03 ¥6.87
74.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 ₸1,017
$0.81 ¥5.39
177.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.91 ₸1,312
$1.52 ¥10.15
91.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 ₸1,241
$1.26 ¥8.41
118.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ₸337
$0.46 ¥3.09
63.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 ₸248
$0.43 ¥2.90
27.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 ₸731
$0.72 ¥4.82
125.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 ₸473
$0.65 ¥4.34
61.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58 ₸1,165
$3.93 ¥26.25
-34.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.15 ₸5,034
$7.37 ¥49.28
51.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₸546
$0.43 ¥2.86
181.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₸1,102
$1.55 ¥10.39
57.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₸117
$0.23 ¥1.54
13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.03 ₸9,940
$13.50 ¥90.3
63.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ₸610
$1.22 ¥8.18
10.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸288
$0.27 ¥1.81
137.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.16 ₸5,036
$7.49 ¥50.1
49.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 ₸323
$1.20 ¥8.05
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K ₸10.2M
$19.6K ¥130.9K
15.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K ₸13.7M
$16.5K ¥110.6K
83.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.8 ₸41.4K
$45.07 ¥301
103.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.66 ₸4,812
$6.89 ¥46.11
54.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.86 ₸8,058
$7.53 ¥50.4
137.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.3 ₸31.7K
$55.4 ¥370
27.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.60 ₸12.5K
$9.03 ¥60.4
205.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 ₸3,059
$4.96 ¥33.15
36.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 ₸202.5K
$302 ¥2,016
48.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K ₸5.5M
$17.6K ¥118.0K
-31.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 ₸40.6K
$51.3 ¥343
75.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02 ₸21.2K
$29.56 ¥198
59.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸64.0K
$74.5 ¥498
90.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₸59.9K
$45.69 ¥306
190.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$805 ₸363.1K
$196 ¥1,313
309.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₸225.5K
$140 ¥937
256.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,429 ₸644.8K
$326 ¥2,181
338.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 ₸408.2K
$196 ¥1,308
362.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,503 ₸1.1M
$1,796 ¥12.0K
39.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,559 ₸703.5K
$1,122 ¥7,500
39.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Weihai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$870 ₸392.6K
$617 ¥4,123
41.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.65
3.37
512.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Last update for Weihai: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$500
Weihai
$140 72% $360
Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$250
Weihai
$170 32% $80
Eating Out
Almaty
$205
Weihai
$82 60% $123
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$185
Weihai
$90 51.1% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$120
Weihai
$59 50.6% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$84
Weihai
$65 22.2% $19
Getting Around
Almaty
$28
Weihai
$17 38.4% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $805 in Almaty versus $196 in Weihai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 41% higher in Almaty, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty versus $16.00 in Weihai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $170 – making Weihai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇨🇳 Weihai
🕒 Local time
14:22 2:22 PM
16:22 4:22 PM
2 h ahead of Almaty
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,475,400
2,804,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 451 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Almaty Weihai 3,830 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Almaty
  • Weihai

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 Weihai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Weihai cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 120%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,058 per month in Almaty and $937 in Weihai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Weihai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or in Weihai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty and $16.00 in Weihai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Weihai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,372 in Almaty and $625 in Weihai. That's a gap of about 120%.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Weihai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Weihai, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Weihai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Weihai more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Weihai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Weihai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Almaty vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?