Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $702 per month in Aktau vs $1,068 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in Aktau vs $1,679 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,619 per month in Aktau vs $2,291 in Almaty, rent included.

Aktau is about 34% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Aktau and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 48% lower, Almaty 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.63 ₸4,455

$7.92 ₸3,660

21.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.39 ₸17.7K

$39.67 ₸18.3K

-3.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ₸4,085

$6.66 ₸3,081

32.73%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ₸1,048

$2.41 ₸1,116

-5.81%

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

$0.56 ₸257

$0.95 ₸440

-41.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₸200

$0.57 ₸264

-24.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ₸551

$1.41 ₸652

-15.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸639

$2.89 ₸1,334

-52.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₸557

$1.27 ₸586

-5.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 ₸179

$0.54 ₸251

-27.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₸782

$1.48 ₸686

14.19%

Eggs

$1.37 ₸631

$1.71 ₸793

-19.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 ₸4,117

$9.62 ₸4,449

-7.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 ₸1,800

$4.46 ₸2,060

-12.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 ₸3,634

$7.62 ₸3,526

3.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸597

$1.34 ₸619

-3.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸916

$1.90 ₸878

4.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 ₸991

$1.89 ₸874

13.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₸1,166

$2.00 ₸926

26.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸268

$0.59 ₸272

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₸236

$0.42 ₸195

21.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ₸626

$1.30 ₸601

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸376

$0.70 ₸323

15.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 ₸1,108

$1.98 ₸915

21.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.04 ₸4,179

$8.46 ₸3,912

6.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸290

$0.84 ₸386

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₸352

$2.14 ₸989

-64.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸66.8

$0.22 ₸102

-36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.79 ₸8,226

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₸475

$1.14 ₸526

-9.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ₸271

$0.67 ₸308

-11.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 ₸2,206

$4.59 ₸2,122

3.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸215

$0.49 ₸225

-4.08%

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

$20.5K ₸9.5M

$23.2K ₸10.7M

-11.94%

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

$24.5K ₸11.3M

$27.5K ₸12.7M

-10.81%

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

$39.58 ₸18.3K

$62.4 ₸28.8K

-36.55%

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

$7.58 ₸3,505

$9.01 ₸4,166

-15.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.75 ₸4,507

$13.41 ₸6,201

-27.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.97 ₸14.8K

$47.68 ₸22.0K

-32.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.81 ₸10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$2.69 ₸1,242

$5.12 ₸2,366

-47.46%

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

$128 ₸59.1K

$261 ₸120.9K

-51.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,304 ₸1.1M

$12.6K ₸5.8M

-81.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ₸27.0K

$85.8 ₸39.7K

-31.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.63 ₸16.0K

$44.05 ₸20.4K

-21.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 ₸30.0K

$97.6 ₸45.1K

-33.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 ₸36.8K

$120 ₸55.6K

-33.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 ₸116.3K

$653 ₸302.1K

-61.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 ₸82.7K

$417 ₸192.6K

-57.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₸206.2K

$1,188 ₸549.5K

-62.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 ₸172.2K

$753 ₸348.3K

-50.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$779 ₸360.2K

$2,151 ₸994.3K

-63.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$617 ₸285.3K

$1,319 ₸609.9K

-53.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 ₸253.2K

$816 ₸377.2K

-32.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

-56.50%

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

Last update for Aktau: April 27, 2026

Last update for Almaty: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $251 in Aktau versus $653 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 49% 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 $38.00 in Aktau versus $40.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $182 – making Aktau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Aktau vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Almaty costs about 52% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,052 per month in Aktau and $1,602 in Almaty. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Aktau and $40.00 in Almaty. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% more in Almaty, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $702, than in Almaty at $1,068. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $702 versus $1,068 in Almaty. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Aktau. 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.