Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jining and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Jining: $675 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Jining
🇨🇳 China
$675
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jining and in Almaty

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

A single person spends $675 per month in Jining vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Jining $675
  • Almaty $1,372

A couple spends around $1,012 per month in Jining vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Jining $1,012
  • Almaty $2,142

A family of three spends $1,349 per month in Jining vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Jining $1,349
  • Almaty $2,913

Jining is about 51% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Jining sits 50% below the global median, while Almaty is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jining
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.19 ¥14.62
$13.16 ₸5,949
-83.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.48 ¥110
$44.86 ₸20.3K
-63.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.37 ¥29.21
$8.90 ₸4,022
-50.90%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ¥16.75
$3.25 ₸1,469
-22.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.41
$1.41 ₸639
-63.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.08
$0.88 ₸399
-64.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.93 ¥6.21
$3.35 ₸1,513
-72.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥10.80
$4.04 ₸1,827
-60.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jining
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 ¥11.35
$1.69 ₸762
0.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 ¥7.89
$0.86 ₸390
37.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ¥6.27
$2.03 ₸917
-53.69%
Eggs
$0.96 ¥6.43
$2.43 ₸1,100
-60.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.16 ¥54.5
$12.46 ₸5,632
-34.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.87 ¥19.17
$6.71 ₸3,033
-57.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.26 ¥68.6
$10.85 ₸4,905
-5.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.45 ¥9.68
$1.80 ₸813
-19.44%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.61
$2.25 ₸1,018
-56.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.06
$2.91 ₸1,314
-63.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 ¥7.84
$2.75 ₸1,243
-57.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.61 ¥4.09
$0.75 ₸337
-18.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.89
$0.55 ₸248
32.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ¥4.42
$1.62 ₸732
-59.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥5.08
$1.05 ₸474
-27.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31 ¥35.50
$2.58 ₸1,167
105.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.86 ¥65.9
$11.15 ₸5,042
-11.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ¥6.32
$1.21 ₸547
-21.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥10.74
$2.44 ₸1,104
-34.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Jining
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.08
$0.26 ₸117
19.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.21 ¥122
$22.03 ₸9,957
-17.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 ¥6.94
$1.35 ₸611
-22.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.64 ₸288
-54.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 ¥24.10
$11.16 ₸5,044
-67.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ¥8.77
$0.72 ₸324
81.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ¥129.0K
$22.5K ₸10.2M
-14.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6K ¥117.7K
$30.3K ₸13.7M
-41.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jining
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.8 ¥407
$91.8 ₸41.5K
-33.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.92 ¥46.30
$10.66 ₸4,820
-35.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.47 ¥70.0
$17.86 ₸8,072
-41.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jining
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.31 ¥283
$70.3 ₸31.8K
-39.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.20 ¥102
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-44.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.43 ¥29.64
$6.78 ₸3,064
-34.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jining
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$386 ¥2,578
$449 ₸202.9K
-14.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,427 ¥49.7K
$12.1K ₸5.5M
-38.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jining
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.12 ¥288
$89.9 ₸40.7K
-52.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.56 ¥224
$47.02 ₸21.3K
-28.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.6 ¥485
$142 ₸64.1K
-48.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.8 ¥466
$133 ₸60.0K
-47.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jining
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$281 ¥1,880
$805 ₸363.7K
-65.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ¥1,214
$500 ₸225.9K
-63.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$391 ¥2,615
$1,429 ₸645.9K
-72.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 ¥1,796
$904 ₸408.8K
-70.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,524 ¥23.6K
$2,503 ₸1.1M
40.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,958 ¥13.1K
$1,559 ₸704.7K
25.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jining
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ¥3,957
$870 ₸393.3K
-31.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.29
20.65
-84.07%

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

Last update for Jining: October 12, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Jining
$182
Almaty
$500 175% $318
Groceries & Markets
Jining
$172
Almaty
$250 45.6% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Jining
$99
Almaty
$185 87.9% $87
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jining
$78
Almaty
$120 53.9% $42
Eating Out
Jining
$72
Almaty
$205 185% $133
Sport & Entertainment
Jining
$51
Almaty
$84 63.9% $33
Getting Around
Jining
$22
Almaty
$28 25.8% $5.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Jining versus $805 in Almaty. 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 47% 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 $16.00 in Jining versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $250 – making Jining the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Jining
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
16:28 4:28 PM
14:28 2:28 PM
2 h behind Jining
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,357,897
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jining Almaty 3,480 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Jining
  • Almaty

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
Jining vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Jining?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 103%, 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 $1,013 per month in Jining and $2,058 in Almaty. 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 Jining, 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 Jining or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Jining and $45.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Jining and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $675 in Jining and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 103%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Jining or in Almaty?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jining, where all-in costs run around $675, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Jining it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Jining or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jining – 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 Jining. 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.

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