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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Karaganda costs roughly 1% less than in Dongguan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.53 ₸4,180

$2.46 ¥16.65

246.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.67 ₸14.5K

$20.48 ¥138

44.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ₸2,437

$4.35 ¥29.40

14.25%

Cappuccino

$1.85 ₸907

$2.71 ¥18.35

-31.73%

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

$0.70 ₸343

$0.44 ¥3.01

59.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.29 ¥1.97

62.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ₸467

$1.12 ¥7.60

-15.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 ₸1,473

$2.18 ¥14.73

38.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 ₸463

$1.71 ¥11.54

-45.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 ₸215

$1.45 ¥9.78

-69.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 ₸638

$0.97 ¥6.55

34.02%

Eggs

$1.73 ₸845

$1.80 ¥12.18

-3.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.48 ₸4,644

$13.01 ¥88.0

-27.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₸2,079

$3.93 ¥26.60

7.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.25 ₸3,555

$11.39 ¥77.0

-36.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.32 ₸646

$1.83 ¥12.35

-27.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ₸711

$1.46 ¥9.85

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸929

$1.81 ¥12.22

4.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₸971

$1.36 ¥9.17

45.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸273

$1.01 ¥6.82

-44.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.41 ₸200

$1.46 ¥9.86

-71.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₸486

$0.65 ¥4.41

52.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸372

$0.55 ¥3.73

38.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 ₸878

$2.82 ¥19.09

-36.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.87 ₸3,857

$14.55 ¥98.4

-45.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸487

$0.89 ¥6.04

11.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₸807

$1.86 ¥12.55

-11.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸108

$0.29 ¥1.98

-24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 ₸5,666

$21.18 ¥143

-45.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 ₸872

$1.28 ¥8.63

39.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ₸222

$0.35 ¥2.34

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 ₸2,148

$5.43 ¥36.73

-19.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.45 ₸219

$1.16 ¥7.86

-61.21%

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

$19.0K ₸9.3M

$20.8K ¥140.5K

-8.51%

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

$25.1K ₸12.3M

$20.5K ¥138.5K

22.56%

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

$53.9 ₸26.4K

$62.1 ¥420

-13.23%

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

$8.04 ₸3,941

$8.36 ¥56.5

-3.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.00 ₸6,372

$12.32 ¥83.3

5.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.29 ₸15.8K

$60.5 ¥409

-46.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.76 ₸5,764

$13.24 ¥89.5

-11.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 ₸2,191

$6.87 ¥46.45

-34.93%

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

$240 ₸117.4K

$451 ¥3,050

-46.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,875 ₸2.4M

$20.5K ¥138.9K

-76.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 ₸27.2K

$29.57 ¥200

87.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.64 ₸17.5K

$24.49 ¥166

45.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.6 ₸42.5K

$61.9 ¥418

40.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.9 ₸41.1K

$37.57 ¥254

123.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₸163.0K

$361 ¥2,442

-7.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 ₸102.9K

$216 ¥1,458

-2.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$569 ₸279.0K

$691 ¥4,674

-17.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₸195.8K

$406 ¥2,745

-1.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$977 ₸478.5K

$5,711 ¥38.6K

-82.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$653 ₸319.8K

$3,110 ¥21.0K

-79.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$523 ₸256.2K

$836 ¥5,653

-37.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

4.04

299.01%

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

Last update for Karaganda: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dongguan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $333 in Karaganda and $361 in Dongguan. 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: $30.00 in Karaganda vs $20.00 in Dongguan. Groceries flip the comparison at $170 vs $220, 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

Karaganda vs Dongguan: 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.

On paper, Dongguan earns 60% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $333 in Karaganda versus $361 in Dongguan. 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 $240 in Karaganda versus $451 in Dongguan. 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.