Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanchong and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Nanchong: $682 a month against $1,372 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Nanchong
🇨🇳 China
$682
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $682 per month in Nanchong vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Nanchong $682
  • Almaty $1,372

A couple spends around $1,112 per month in Nanchong vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Nanchong $1,112
  • Almaty $2,142

A family of three spends $1,543 per month in Nanchong vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Nanchong $1,543
  • Almaty $2,913

Nanchong is about 50% cheaper than Almaty, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.75 ¥11.70
$13.16 ₸5,949
-86.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.63 ¥151
$44.86 ₸20.3K
-49.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.02 ¥20.17
$8.90 ₸4,022
-66.07%
Cappuccino
$2.02 ¥13.49
$3.25 ₸1,469
-37.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.90
$1.41 ₸639
-69.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.09
$0.88 ₸399
-64.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.22 ¥8.14
$3.35 ₸1,513
-63.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ¥11.72
$4.04 ₸1,827
-56.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ¥12.90
$1.69 ₸762
14.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 ¥10.68
$0.86 ₸390
86.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.63 ¥4.23
$2.03 ₸917
-68.97%
Eggs
$2.16 ¥14.41
$2.43 ₸1,100
-11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.25 ¥122
$12.46 ₸5,632
46.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ¥22.95
$6.71 ₸3,033
-48.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.97 ¥66.7
$10.85 ₸4,905
-8.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.53 ¥10.24
$1.80 ₸813
-15.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 ¥8.67
$2.25 ₸1,018
-42.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.25 ¥8.33
$2.91 ₸1,314
-57.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 ¥8.04
$2.75 ₸1,243
-56.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ¥4.45
$0.75 ₸337
-10.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ¥6.23
$0.55 ₸248
69.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 ¥5.60
$1.62 ₸732
-48.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ¥4.09
$1.05 ₸474
-41.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 ¥19.82
$2.58 ₸1,167
14.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.74 ¥58.4
$11.15 ₸5,042
-21.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥5.43
$1.21 ₸547
-33.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 ¥11.33
$2.44 ₸1,104
-30.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ¥2.25
$0.26 ₸117
30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.28 ¥122
$22.03 ₸9,957
-17.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 ¥10.17
$1.35 ₸611
12.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 ¥2.10
$0.64 ₸288
-51.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 ¥20.58
$11.16 ₸5,044
-72.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ¥8.77
$0.72 ₸324
81.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥130.2K
$22.5K ₸10.2M
-13.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K ¥112.7K
$30.3K ₸13.7M
-44.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.74 ¥299
$91.8 ₸41.5K
-51.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.19 ¥48.08
$10.66 ₸4,820
-32.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.88 ¥46.01
$17.86 ₸8,072
-61.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.93 ¥280
$70.3 ₸31.8K
-40.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.50 ¥97.0
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-47.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.16 ¥41.16
$6.78 ₸3,064
-9.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$292 ¥1,955
$449 ₸202.9K
-34.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.5K ¥170.8K
$12.1K ₸5.5M
111.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.45 ¥264
$89.9 ₸40.7K
-56.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.06 ¥201
$47.02 ₸21.3K
-36.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.4 ¥431
$142 ₸64.1K
-54.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9 ¥427
$133 ₸60.0K
-51.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$298 ¥1,991
$805 ₸363.7K
-62.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$183 ¥1,222
$500 ₸225.9K
-63.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$624 ¥4,169
$1,429 ₸645.9K
-56.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 ¥2,557
$904 ₸408.8K
-57.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,201 ¥21.4K
$2,503 ₸1.1M
27.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,973 ¥13.2K
$1,559 ₸704.7K
26.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nanchong
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$870 ₸393.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.34
20.65
-83.83%

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

Last update for Nanchong: 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
Nanchong
$214
Almaty
$250 16.9% $36
Accommodation & Living
Nanchong
$183
Almaty
$500 173% $317
Clothing & Footwear
Nanchong
$89
Almaty
$185 108% $96
Eating Out
Nanchong
$60
Almaty
$205 243% $145
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanchong
$59
Almaty
$120 105% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Nanchong
$54
Almaty
$84 54.6% $30
Getting Around
Nanchong
$23
Almaty
$28 21.5% $4.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Nanchong 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Nanchong versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $250 – making Nanchong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Nanchong
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
13:23 1:23 PM
11:23 11:23 AM
2 h behind Nanchong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,607,565
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
  • Nanchong Almaty 2,910 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Nanchong
  • 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
Nanchong vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Nanchong?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 101%, 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 $1,022 per month in Nanchong 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 Nanchong, 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 Nanchong or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Nanchong 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 Nanchong and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $682 in Nanchong and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 101%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Nanchong or in Almaty?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nanchong, where all-in costs run around $682, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Nanchong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nanchong or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nanchong – 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 Nanchong. 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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