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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Almaty vs $789 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Almaty vs $1,295 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $1,802 in Aktau, rent included.

Almaty costs about 73% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Aktau 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 ₸5,880

$11.07 ₸4,990

17.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.41 ₸20.0K

$44.02 ₸19.8K

0.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 ₸3,902

$9.65 ₸4,348

-10.26%

Cappuccino

$3.29 ₸1,485

$2.58 ₸1,163

27.52%

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

$1.34 ₸603

$0.77 ₸348

74.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸368

$0.49 ₸221

67.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₸1,060

$1.28 ₸579

83.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ₸1,755

$1.56 ₸703

150.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₸777

$1.47 ₸661

17.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸366

$0.43 ₸196

88.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 ₸925

$1.91 ₸860

7.33%

Eggs

$2.42 ₸1,089

$1.75 ₸788

38.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 ₸5,599

$10.12 ₸4,561

22.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 ₸3,053

$4.36 ₸1,967

55.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 ₸4,983

$8.77 ₸3,950

26.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₸868

$1.45 ₸652

33.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,046

$2.27 ₸1,024

2.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ₸1,354

$2.39 ₸1,075

25.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 ₸1,217

$2.85 ₸1,286

-5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₸346

$0.61 ₸277

26.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₸261

$0.57 ₸255

1.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 ₸756

$1.47 ₸661

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸447

$0.99 ₸445

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ₸1,193

$2.70 ₸1,216

-1.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 ₸4,976

$9.46 ₸4,264

16.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₸553

$0.71 ₸322

73.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₸1,055

$0.86 ₸388

172.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸113

$0.18 ₸82.3

38.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.52 ₸9,697

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₸587

$1.13 ₸508

15.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸288

$0.68 ₸305

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.83 ₸4,880

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₸317

$0.58 ₸262

20.69%

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

$22.3K ₸10.0M

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

$29.4K ₸13.2M

$30.7K ₸13.8M

-4.34%

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

$91.2 ₸41.1K

$45.97 ₸20.7K

98.41%

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

$10.56 ₸4,759

$8.08 ₸3,641

30.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ₸7,864

$10.57 ₸4,765

65.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.0 ₸33.8K

$35.93 ₸16.2K

108.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.33 ₸13.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₸2,968

$3.11 ₸1,402

111.90%

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

$434 ₸195.7K

$144 ₸64.9K

201.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₸5.3M

$2,633 ₸1.2M

345.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 ₸39.8K

$67.2 ₸30.3K

31.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.17 ₸21.3K

$40.31 ₸18.2K

17.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 ₸63.8K

$70.3 ₸31.7K

101.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₸59.3K

$89.3 ₸40.3K

47.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₸368.0K

$319 ₸143.9K

155.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₸225.8K

$193 ₸86.9K

159.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 ₸648.5K

$539 ₸242.9K

166.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 ₸406.1K

$388 ₸174.7K

132.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,476 ₸1.1M

$779 ₸351.1K

217.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,521 ₸685.3K

$630 ₸284.0K

141.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$857 ₸386.3K

$559 ₸251.7K

53.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

47.21%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aktau: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $319 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 53% 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 $44.00 in Almaty versus $44.00 in Aktau. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Almaty vs $202 in Aktau – 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

Almaty vs Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Almaty costs about 73% 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 $2,051 per month in Almaty and $1,183 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 $44.00 in Almaty and $44.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $789, than in Almaty at $1,367. 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 $789 versus $1,367 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.