Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktobe and Almaty Cost of Living Comparison Between Aktobe and Almaty

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $666 per month in Aktobe vs $1,057 in Almaty, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,065 per month in Aktobe vs $1,648 in Almaty, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,463 per month in Aktobe vs $2,238 in Almaty, rent included.

Aktobe is about 37% cheaper than Almaty, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Aktobe and Almaty are more affordable than the global median – Aktobe 50% lower, Almaty 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.95 ₸3,898
$8.03 ₸3,934
-1.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.27 ₸14.3K
$38.47 ₸18.9K
-23.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.29 ₸3,083
$6.97 ₸3,416
-9.76%
Cappuccino
$1.78 ₸873
$2.40 ₸1,174
-25.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₸684
$0.98 ₸478
42.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₸240
$0.57 ₸277
-14.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 ₸752
$1.40 ₸687
9.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 ₸1,068
$2.99 ₸1,464
-27.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 ₸562
$1.31 ₸644
-12.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.27 ₸133
$0.60 ₸293
-55.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 ₸537
$1.54 ₸756
-28.57%
Eggs
$1.47 ₸719
$1.74 ₸852
-15.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.27 ₸4,053
$9.74 ₸4,773
-15.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.82 ₸2,363
$4.70 ₸2,301
2.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 ₸3,433
$7.50 ₸3,678
-6.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 ₸670
$1.35 ₸661
1.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 ₸977
$1.98 ₸970
0.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ₸1,137
$1.95 ₸957
18.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 ₸941
$2.07 ₸1,014
-7.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 ₸385
$0.63 ₸308
25.40%
Onion (1kg)
$0.29 ₸140
$0.42 ₸206
-30.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 ₸368
$1.24 ₸608
-39.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₸311
$0.71 ₸346
-11.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83 ₸896
$1.97 ₸965
-7.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.05 ₸2,473
$10.09 ₸4,947
-49.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₸454
$0.88 ₸433
5.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ₸757
$2.04 ₸999
-24.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 ₸86.4
$0.24 ₸118
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$17.76 ₸8,701
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.99 ₸485
$1.16 ₸567
-14.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ₸506
$0.70 ₸343
47.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.58 ₸2,244
$4.80 ₸2,355
-4.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 ₸238
$0.49 ₸240
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K ₸8.6M
$23.2K ₸11.4M
-24.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₸9.5M
$27.2K ₸13.4M
-29.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.47 ₸19.8K
$63.8 ₸31.3K
-36.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.26 ₸5,028
$8.60 ₸4,213
19.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.78 ₸5,281
$13.83 ₸6,777
-22.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.77 ₸14.1K
$48.67 ₸23.9K
-40.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.68 ₸4,745
$21.24 ₸10.4K
-54.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 ₸2,428
$5.11 ₸2,505
-3.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$212 ₸103.7K
$267 ₸130.8K
-20.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,966 ₸2.4M
$12.9K ₸6.3M
-61.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.99 ₸16.7K
$84.0 ₸41.1K
-59.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.76 ₸14.6K
$43.48 ₸21.3K
-31.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ₸44.6K
$96.8 ₸47.4K
-6.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9 ₸31.3K
$119 ₸58.5K
-46.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 ₸110.1K
$665 ₸325.9K
-66.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$189 ₸92.4K
$420 ₸205.7K
-55.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$348 ₸170.6K
$1,175 ₸575.8K
-70.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$282 ₸138.2K
$773 ₸378.9K
-63.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$775 ₸379.8K
$2,143 ₸1.0M
-63.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$487 ₸238.6K
$1,254 ₸614.6K
-61.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aktobe
Almaty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$510 ₸249.9K
$789 ₸386.9K
-35.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.39
18.39
-

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

Last update for Aktobe: June 1, 2026

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Aktobe versus $665 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 55% 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 $29.00 in Aktobe versus $38.00 in Almaty. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $163 vs $189 – making Aktobe 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
Aktobe vs Almaty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almaty cheaper than Aktobe?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 59%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $999 per month in Aktobe and $1,586 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 Aktobe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Aktobe vs Almaty?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $666 in Aktobe and $1,057 in Almaty. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $212 per month in Aktobe and $267 in Almaty. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Aktobe or Almaty?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aktobe, where all-in costs run around $666, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Aktobe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Aktobe or Almaty more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aktobe – 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 Aktobe. 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.

Aktobe vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities