Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quzhou and Almaty

For one person, living is cheaper in Quzhou: $679 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.

Quzhou
🇨🇳 China
$679
/mo nomad
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,372
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $679 per month in Quzhou vs $1,372 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Quzhou $679
  • Almaty $1,372

A couple spends around $1,133 per month in Quzhou vs $2,142 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Quzhou $1,133
  • Almaty $2,142

A family of three spends $1,586 per month in Quzhou vs $2,913 in Almaty, rent included.

  • Quzhou $1,586
  • Almaty $2,913

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

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.88 ¥19.27
$13.16 ₸5,939
-78.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.36 ¥203
$44.86 ₸20.2K
-32.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.52 ¥30.22
$8.90 ₸4,015
-49.21%
Cappuccino
$3.48 ¥23.27
$3.25 ₸1,466
7.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ¥3.21
$1.41 ₸638
-65.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ¥2.07
$0.88 ₸398
-64.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 ¥7.17
$3.35 ₸1,510
-68.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 ¥21.99
$4.04 ₸1,824
-18.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 ¥11.79
$1.69 ₸761
4.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 ¥7.46
$0.86 ₸390
30.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.52
$2.03 ₸916
-66.50%
Eggs
$1.63 ¥10.88
$2.43 ₸1,098
-32.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.17 ¥101
$12.46 ₸5,623
21.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 ¥25.26
$6.71 ₸3,028
-43.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.84 ¥59.1
$10.85 ₸4,896
-18.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.08 ¥7.22
$1.80 ₸812
-40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ¥10.46
$2.25 ₸1,017
-30.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 ¥10.02
$2.91 ₸1,312
-48.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 ¥8.25
$2.75 ₸1,241
-55.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ¥3.90
$0.75 ₸337
-22.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 ¥4.73
$0.55 ₸248
29.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ¥4.34
$1.62 ₸731
-59.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ¥3.65
$1.05 ₸473
-47.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.37 ¥29.22
$2.58 ₸1,165
69.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 ¥54.1
$11.15 ₸5,034
-27.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ¥5.01
$1.21 ₸546
-38.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ¥9.88
$2.44 ₸1,102
-39.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.94
$0.26 ₸117
11.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.07 ¥107
$22.03 ₸9,940
-27.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.77 ¥11.81
$1.35 ₸610
31.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.49
$0.64 ₸288
-42.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.15 ¥47.80
$11.16 ₸5,036
-35.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ¥8.51
$0.72 ₸323
76.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ¥127.4K
$22.5K ₸10.2M
-15.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥121.9K
$30.3K ₸13.7M
-39.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.0 ¥347
$91.8 ₸41.4K
-43.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.82 ¥45.58
$10.66 ₸4,812
-36.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.09 ¥54.1
$17.86 ₸8,058
-54.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.80 ¥253
$70.3 ₸31.7K
-46.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.94 ¥93.2
$27.60 ₸12.5K
-49.49%
Cinema Ticket
$7.74 ¥51.8
$6.78 ₸3,059
14.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$418 ¥2,798
$449 ₸202.5K
-6.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ¥104.5K
$12.1K ₸5.5M
29.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.2 ¥416
$89.9 ₸40.6K
-30.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.26 ¥182
$47.02 ₸21.2K
-42.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.0 ¥408
$142 ₸64.0K
-56.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.5 ¥345
$133 ₸59.9K
-61.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$286 ¥1,915
$805 ₸363.1K
-64.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$163 ¥1,087
$500 ₸225.5K
-67.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ¥4,788
$1,429 ₸644.8K
-49.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 ¥2,458
$904 ₸408.2K
-59.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,840 ¥25.7K
$2,503 ₸1.1M
53.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,738 ¥11.6K
$1,559 ₸703.5K
11.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quzhou
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$690 ¥4,615
$870 ₸392.6K
-20.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.18
20.65
-84.60%

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

Last update for Quzhou: October 10, 2026

Last update for Almaty: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Quzhou
$191
Almaty
$250 31% $59
Accommodation & Living
Quzhou
$163
Almaty
$500 207% $337
Eating Out
Quzhou
$93
Almaty
$205 119% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Quzhou
$91
Almaty
$185 104% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quzhou
$67
Almaty
$120 80% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Quzhou
$53
Almaty
$84 57.4% $31
Getting Around
Quzhou
$21
Almaty
$28 32.3% $6.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Quzhou 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 26% 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 $30.00 in Quzhou versus $45.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $250 – making Quzhou the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Quzhou
🇰🇿 Almaty
🕒 Local time
16:52 4:52 PM
14:52 2:52 PM
2 h behind Quzhou
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,122,661
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

KZT, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 451 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quzhou Almaty 4,030 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quzhou
  • 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
Quzhou vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Quzhou?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 102%, 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 $1,018 per month in Quzhou 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 Quzhou, 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 Quzhou or in Almaty?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Quzhou 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 Quzhou and in Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $679 in Quzhou and $1,372 in Almaty. That's a gap of about 102%.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Quzhou or in Almaty?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quzhou, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Almaty at $1,372. In Quzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Quzhou or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quzhou – 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 Quzhou. 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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