Cost of Living Comparison Between Dongguan and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Dongguan and Karaganda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $762 in Dongguan versus $752 in Karaganda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,183 in Dongguan versus $1,187 in Karaganda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,605 in Dongguan versus $1,623 in Karaganda.

Living in Dongguan is roughly 1% more expensive than Karaganda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dongguan 43% lower, Karaganda 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.46 ¥16.65

$8.53 ₸4,180

-71.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.48 ¥138

$29.67 ₸14.5K

-30.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.35 ¥29.40

$4.97 ₸2,437

-12.47%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ¥18.35

$1.85 ₸907

46.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ¥3.01

$0.70 ₸343

-37.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.97

$0.47 ₸228

-38.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.12 ¥7.60

$0.95 ₸467

17.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ¥14.73

$3.01 ₸1,473

-27.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ¥11.54

$0.94 ₸463

81.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ¥9.78

$0.44 ₸215

229.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.97 ¥6.55

$1.30 ₸638

-25.38%

Eggs

$1.80 ¥12.18

$1.73 ₸845

4.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 ¥88.0

$9.48 ₸4,644

37.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 ¥26.60

$4.24 ₸2,079

-7.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.39 ¥77.0

$7.25 ₸3,555

57.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 ¥12.35

$1.32 ₸646

38.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.85

$1.45 ₸711

0.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.22

$1.89 ₸929

-4.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 ¥9.17

$1.98 ₸971

-31.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 ¥6.82

$0.56 ₸273

80.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ¥9.86

$0.41 ₸200

256.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ¥4.41

$0.99 ₸486

-34.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ¥3.73

$0.76 ₸372

-27.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 ¥19.09

$1.79 ₸878

57.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.55 ¥98.4

$7.87 ₸3,857

84.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ¥6.04

$0.99 ₸487

-10.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ¥12.55

$1.65 ₸807

12.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.98

$0.22 ₸108

31.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 ¥143

$11.56 ₸5,666

83.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 ¥8.63

$1.78 ₸872

-28.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 ¥2.34

$0.45 ₸222

-22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 ¥36.73

$4.38 ₸2,148

23.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ¥7.86

$0.45 ₸219

157.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.8K ¥140.5K

$19.0K ₸9.3M

9.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.5K ¥138.5K

$25.1K ₸12.3M

-18.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$62.1 ¥420

$53.9 ₸26.4K

15.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.36 ¥56.5

$8.04 ₸3,941

3.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.32 ¥83.3

$13.00 ₸6,372

-5.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ¥409

$32.29 ₸15.8K

87.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 ¥89.5

$11.76 ₸5,764

12.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.87 ¥46.45

$4.47 ₸2,191

53.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$451 ¥3,050

$240 ₸117.4K

88.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.5K ¥138.9K

$4,875 ₸2.4M

321.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.57 ¥200

$55.6 ₸27.2K

-46.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.49 ¥166

$35.64 ₸17.5K

-31.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.9 ¥418

$86.6 ₸42.5K

-28.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.57 ¥254

$83.9 ₸41.1K

-55.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 ¥2,442

$333 ₸163.0K

8.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$216 ¥1,458

$210 ₸102.9K

2.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$691 ¥4,674

$569 ₸279.0K

21.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$406 ¥2,745

$400 ₸195.8K

1.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,711 ¥38.6K

$977 ₸478.5K

484.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,110 ¥21.0K

$653 ₸319.8K

376.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$836 ¥5,653

$523 ₸256.2K

59.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.04

16.12

-74.94%

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

Last update for Dongguan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $361 in Dongguan and $333 in Karaganda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dongguan pays 60% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Dongguan vs $30.00 in Karaganda. Groceries flip the comparison at $220 vs $170, with Karaganda cheaper for home cooking.

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

Dongguan vs Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Karaganda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Dongguan pays 60% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $361 in Dongguan versus $333 in Karaganda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Karaganda runs roughly 83% less than in Dongguan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $451 in Dongguan versus $240 in Karaganda. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Karaganda gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Karaganda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Dongguan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.