Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Linyi and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Linyi: $586 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Linyi
🇨🇳 China
$586
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Linyi 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 Linyi and in Almaty actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $586 per month in Linyi vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Linyi $586
  • Almaty $1,372

A couple spends around $935 per month in Linyi vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Linyi $935
  • Almaty $2,142

A family of three spends $1,284 per month in Linyi vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Linyi $1,284
  • Almaty $2,913

Linyi is about 57% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Linyi sits 57% below the global median, while Almaty is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.30 ¥15.39
$13.16 ₸5,949
-82.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.80 ¥159
$44.86 ₸20.3K
-46.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.81 ¥32.18
$8.90 ₸4,022
-45.96%
Cappuccino
$2.58 ¥17.27
$3.25 ₸1,469
-20.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.89
$1.41 ₸639
-69.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 ¥1.54
$0.88 ₸399
-73.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ¥5.90
$3.35 ₸1,513
-73.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ¥13.56
$4.04 ₸1,827
-49.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 ¥9.68
$1.69 ₸762
-14.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ¥9.76
$0.86 ₸390
69.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.39 ¥2.61
$2.03 ₸917
-80.79%
Eggs
$1.08 ¥7.19
$2.43 ₸1,100
-55.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.07 ¥60.7
$12.46 ₸5,632
-27.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.07
$6.71 ₸3,033
-73.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.03 ¥73.7
$10.85 ₸4,905
1.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 ¥7.92
$1.80 ₸813
-34.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 ¥7.08
$2.25 ₸1,018
-52.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 ¥6.82
$2.91 ₸1,314
-64.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 ¥6.56
$2.75 ₸1,243
-64.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 ¥3.10
$0.75 ₸337
-38.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 ¥2.57
$0.55 ₸248
-29.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 ¥3.57
$1.62 ₸732
-67.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ¥4.44
$1.05 ₸474
-37.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ¥29.31
$2.58 ₸1,167
69.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 ¥66.4
$11.15 ₸5,042
-10.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ¥4.47
$1.21 ₸547
-44.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 ¥8.92
$2.44 ₸1,104
-45.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$0.26 ₸117
11.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.03 ₸9,957
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 ¥6.94
$1.35 ₸611
-22.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 ¥1.81
$0.64 ₸288
-57.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 ¥29.30
$11.16 ₸5,044
-60.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥7.74
$0.72 ₸324
61.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.2K ¥108.2K
$22.5K ₸10.2M
-28.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.7K ¥98.3K
$30.3K ₸13.7M
-51.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.9 ¥494
$91.8 ₸41.5K
-19.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.83 ¥32.30
$10.66 ₸4,820
-54.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.16 ¥34.53
$17.86 ₸8,072
-71.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.7 ¥359
$70.3 ₸31.8K
-23.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.35 ¥176
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-4.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.26 ¥35.18
$6.78 ₸3,064
-22.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$217 ¥1,452
$449 ₸202.9K
-51.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ¥70.5K
$12.1K ₸5.5M
-12.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.72 ¥152
$89.9 ₸40.7K
-74.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.52 ¥151
$47.02 ₸21.3K
-52.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.6 ¥472
$142 ₸64.1K
-50.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.6 ¥458
$133 ₸60.0K
-48.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$211 ¥1,413
$805 ₸363.7K
-73.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$113 ¥755
$500 ₸225.9K
-77.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$492 ¥3,288
$1,429 ₸645.9K
-65.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$208 ¥1,391
$904 ₸408.8K
-76.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,483 ¥9,914
$2,503 ₸1.1M
-40.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$985 ¥6,585
$1,559 ₸704.7K
-36.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Linyi
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$801 ¥5,353
$870 ₸393.3K
-7.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.13
20.65
-84.84%

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

Last update for Linyi: October 11, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Linyi
$164
Almaty
$250 52.9% $87
Accommodation & Living
Linyi
$113
Almaty
$500 343% $387
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Linyi
$84
Almaty
$120 43.4% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Linyi
$83
Almaty
$185 123% $102
Eating Out
Linyi
$75
Almaty
$205 173% $130
Sport & Entertainment
Linyi
$64
Almaty
$84 30.6% $20
Getting Around
Linyi
$3.6 *
Almaty
$28 678% $24

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $211 in Linyi 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 9% 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 $24.00 in Linyi versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $164 vs $250 – making Linyi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Linyi
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
14:21 2:21 PM
12:21 12:21 PM
2 h behind Linyi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,710,000
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
  • Linyi Almaty 3,640 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Linyi
  • 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
Linyi vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Linyi?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 134%, 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 $879 per month in Linyi 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 Linyi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Linyi and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $586 in Linyi and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 134%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $217 per month in Linyi and $449 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Linyi or in Almaty?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Linyi, where all-in costs run around $586, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Linyi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Linyi or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Linyi – 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 Linyi. 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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