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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Almaty costs about 52% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.92 ₸3,631

$9.63 ₸4,420

-17.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.67 ₸18.2K

$38.39 ₸17.6K

3.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 ₸3,057

$8.84 ₸4,053

-24.66%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ₸1,107

$2.27 ₸1,040

6.17%

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

$0.95 ₸437

$0.56 ₸255

69.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸262

$0.43 ₸199

32.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₸646

$1.19 ₸546

18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₸1,324

$1.38 ₸634

109.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₸582

$1.20 ₸553

5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₸249

$0.39 ₸177

38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₸681

$1.69 ₸776

-12.43%

Eggs

$1.71 ₸787

$1.37 ₸626

24.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 ₸4,415

$8.90 ₸4,085

8.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 ₸2,044

$3.89 ₸1,786

14.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.62 ₸3,498

$7.86 ₸3,606

-3.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸615

$1.29 ₸592

3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₸872

$1.98 ₸909

-4.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸868

$2.14 ₸984

-11.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 ₸919

$2.52 ₸1,157

-20.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸270

$0.58 ₸266

1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸193

$0.51 ₸235

-17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸597

$1.35 ₸621

-3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₸320

$0.81 ₸373

-13.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸908

$2.40 ₸1,100

-17.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.46 ₸3,882

$9.04 ₸4,146

-6.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸383

$0.63 ₸288

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₸982

$0.76 ₸349

181.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸101

$0.14 ₸66.3

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.79 ₸8,162

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₸522

$1.03 ₸471

10.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸305

$0.59 ₸269

13.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 ₸2,105

$4.77 ₸2,189

-3.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸224

$0.47 ₸213

4.26%

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

$23.2K ₸10.7M

$20.5K ₸9.4M

13.55%

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

$27.5K ₸12.6M

$24.5K ₸11.2M

12.12%

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

$62.4 ₸28.6K

$39.58 ₸18.2K

57.60%

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

$9.01 ₸4,134

$7.58 ₸3,477

18.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.41 ₸6,153

$9.75 ₸4,472

37.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.68 ₸21.9K

$31.97 ₸14.7K

49.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.81 ₸10.0K

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 ₸2,347

$2.69 ₸1,232

90.33%

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

$261 ₸119.9K

$128 ₸58.6K

104.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₸5.8M

$2,304 ₸1.1M

448.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.8 ₸39.4K

$58.4 ₸26.8K

46.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 ₸20.2K

$34.63 ₸15.9K

27.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₸44.8K

$64.8 ₸29.7K

50.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸55.2K

$79.7 ₸36.6K

50.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₸299.8K

$251 ₸115.4K

159.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸191.1K

$179 ₸82.0K

132.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 ₸545.2K

$446 ₸204.6K

166.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$753 ₸345.6K

$373 ₸170.9K

102.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 ₸986.6K

$779 ₸357.4K

176.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,319 ₸605.1K

$617 ₸283.1K

113.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$816 ₸374.3K

$548 ₸251.2K

48.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

129.88%

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

Last update for Almaty: April 26, 2026

Last update for Aktau: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $653 in Almaty versus $251 in Aktau. 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 $40.00 in Almaty versus $38.00 in Aktau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $178 – 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

Almaty vs Aktau: 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 $1,602 per month in Almaty and $1,052 in Aktau. 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 $40.00 in Almaty and $38.00 in Aktau. 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.