Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktau and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $710 per month in Aktau vs $912 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,195 per month in Aktau vs $1,422 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,680 per month in Aktau vs $1,933 in Astana, rent included.

Aktau is about 22% cheaper than Astana, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Aktau and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Aktau 47% lower, Astana 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.73 ₸4,726

$8.10 ₸3,936

20.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.64 ₸18.8K

$28.85 ₸14.0K

33.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 ₸4,208

$5.76 ₸2,797

50.35%

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₸1,114

$2.19 ₸1,066

4.57%

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

$0.54 ₸262

$0.91 ₸444

-40.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₸211

$0.53 ₸259

-18.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₸574

$1.14 ₸554

3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₸680

$2.95 ₸1,432

-52.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₸557

$1.01 ₸492

13.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 ₸187

$0.50 ₸245

-24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 ₸824

$1.40 ₸680

21.43%

Eggs

$1.36 ₸662

$1.79 ₸868

-24.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 ₸4,164

$9.34 ₸4,537

-8.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.96 ₸1,922

$4.73 ₸2,300

-16.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.61 ₸3,697

$6.96 ₸3,381

9.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.29 ₸628

$1.36 ₸661

-5.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 ₸975

$1.87 ₸907

7.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 ₸996

$1.92 ₸935

6.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 ₸1,254

$1.97 ₸959

30.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸270

$0.58 ₸283

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₸248

$0.38 ₸183

34.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₸661

$1.02 ₸495

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸426

$0.75 ₸364

17.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.36 ₸1,148

$1.81 ₸878

30.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.87 ₸4,309

$9.14 ₸4,440

-2.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₸331

$1.02 ₸497

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸396

$1.70 ₸823

-52.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 ₸73.5

$0.21 ₸102

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.56 ₸7,075

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₸498

$1.79 ₸868

-42.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₸278

$0.71 ₸345

-19.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ₸2,246

$4.51 ₸2,191

2.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸240

$0.47 ₸226

4.26%

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

$20.0K ₸9.7M

$20.7K ₸10.1M

-3.54%

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

$24.5K ₸11.9M

$24.7K ₸12.0M

-0.84%

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

$39.87 ₸19.4K

$53.9 ₸26.2K

-26.08%

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

$7.60 ₸3,690

$8.00 ₸3,888

-5.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.66 ₸4,691

$13.90 ₸6,751

-30.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.61 ₸15.4K

$49.83 ₸24.2K

-36.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₸5,419

Cinema Ticket

$2.77 ₸1,344

$5.30 ₸2,572

-47.74%

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

$127 ₸61.9K

$238 ₸115.8K

-46.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,326 ₸1.1M

$4,790 ₸2.3M

-51.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ₸28.5K

$55.8 ₸27.1K

5.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.50 ₸17.2K

$34.85 ₸16.9K

1.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.4 ₸30.3K

$88.8 ₸43.1K

-29.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 ₸38.3K

$86.1 ₸41.8K

-8.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 ₸123.9K

$478 ₸232.1K

-46.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$181 ₸87.8K

$328 ₸159.2K

-44.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ₸216.1K

$848 ₸412.2K

-47.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 ₸175.7K

$598 ₸290.3K

-39.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$750 ₸364.4K

$1,378 ₸669.5K

-45.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$605 ₸293.8K

$993 ₸482.3K

-39.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 ₸248.9K

$798 ₸387.8K

-35.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

-50.37%

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

Last update for Aktau: June 2, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Aktau versus $478 in Astana. 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 56% higher in Astana, 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 $39.00 in Aktau versus $29.00 in Astana. Groceries tell a different story – $177 in Aktau vs $178 in Astana – so Aktau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Astana costs about 28% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,065 per month in Aktau and $1,367 in Astana. 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 $39.00 in Aktau and $29.00 in Astana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Astana, 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 $710, than in Astana at $912. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $710 versus $912 in Astana. 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, Astana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.