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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $703 per month in Aktau vs $898 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,165 per month in Aktau vs $1,407 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,627 per month in Aktau vs $1,916 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 48% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.57 ₸4,497

$8.23 ₸3,868

16.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.68 ₸18.2K

$29.11 ₸13.7K

32.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 ₸4,034

$5.95 ₸2,797

44.20%

Cappuccino

$2.19 ₸1,030

$2.15 ₸1,009

1.86%

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

$0.55 ₸257

$0.94 ₸442

-41.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 ₸207

$0.54 ₸252

-18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₸534

$1.19 ₸559

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₸651

$2.92 ₸1,371

-52.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₸559

$0.93 ₸439

27.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 ₸194

$0.47 ₸221

-12.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 ₸769

$1.40 ₸660

17.14%

Eggs

$1.36 ₸641

$1.71 ₸804

-20.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.58 ₸4,035

$9.33 ₸4,386

-8.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 ₸1,926

$4.74 ₸2,229

-13.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 ₸3,734

$7.10 ₸3,339

11.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸612

$1.32 ₸622

-1.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸933

$1.83 ₸862

8.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ₸956

$1.98 ₸930

2.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.56 ₸1,205

$1.95 ₸919

31.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₸260

$0.59 ₸276

-6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 ₸242

$0.37 ₸176

37.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ₸619

$1.03 ₸483

28.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₸379

$0.75 ₸351

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 ₸1,131

$1.81 ₸850

32.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.10 ₸4,278

$8.47 ₸3,980

7.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₸305

$0.99 ₸467

-34.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₸378

$1.65 ₸774

-51.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 ₸68.1

$0.21 ₸98.3

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.43 ₸6,785

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 ₸478

$1.71 ₸804

-40.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₸268

$0.68 ₸318

-16.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,258

$4.39 ₸2,064

9.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸220

$0.51 ₸238

-7.84%

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

$19.8K ₸9.3M

$20.5K ₸9.6M

-3.28%

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

$24.2K ₸11.4M

$25.4K ₸11.9M

-4.43%

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

$39.95 ₸18.8K

$54.5 ₸25.6K

-26.68%

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

$7.78 ₸3,655

$8.14 ₸3,826

-4.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.31 ₸4,379

$13.70 ₸6,442

-32.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.54 ₸15.3K

$50.0 ₸23.5K

-34.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.30 ₸5,312

Cinema Ticket

$2.80 ₸1,317

$5.20 ₸2,446

-46.15%

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

$126 ₸59.2K

$235 ₸110.3K

-46.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,346 ₸1.1M

$4,809 ₸2.3M

-51.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 ₸27.6K

$56.2 ₸26.4K

4.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.06 ₸16.5K

$34.80 ₸16.4K

0.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.0 ₸29.6K

$87.4 ₸41.1K

-27.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.5 ₸37.4K

$87.9 ₸41.3K

-9.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 ₸118.4K

$481 ₸225.9K

-47.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ₸84.5K

$324 ₸152.2K

-44.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 ₸210.6K

$851 ₸399.9K

-47.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 ₸174.3K

$605 ₸284.6K

-38.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$771 ₸362.6K

$1,292 ₸607.1K

-40.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$601 ₸282.4K

$943 ₸443.5K

-36.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$544 ₸255.8K

$723 ₸339.8K

-24.73%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Astana: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $252 in Aktau versus $481 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 33% 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 in Aktau versus $29 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $176 – making Astana 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 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 $1,054 per month in Aktau and $1,346 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Astana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $703, than in Astana at $898. 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 $703 versus $898 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.