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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Almaty vs $714 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,689 per month in Almaty vs $1,184 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,311 per month in Almaty vs $1,655 in Aktau, rent included.

Almaty costs about 50% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 20% lower, Aktau 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.97 ₸3,797

$9.84 ₸4,689

-19.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.97 ₸18.6K

$39.52 ₸18.8K

-1.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,301

$8.85 ₸4,217

-21.69%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₸1,115

$2.21 ₸1,052

5.88%

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

$0.97 ₸463

$0.51 ₸243

90.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸251

$0.40 ₸193

32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸668

$1.20 ₸571

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₸1,367

$1.33 ₸634

115.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₸629

$1.20 ₸571

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 ₸283

$0.38 ₸182

55.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ₸739

$1.61 ₸769

-3.73%

Eggs

$1.77 ₸844

$1.44 ₸685

22.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 ₸4,488

$8.91 ₸4,245

5.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 ₸2,165

$3.95 ₸1,881

14.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,572

$7.52 ₸3,582

-0.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸642

$1.34 ₸639

0.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸929

$2.09 ₸995

-6.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₸935

$2.14 ₸1,020

-8.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ₸1,000

$2.46 ₸1,174

-14.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸277

$0.56 ₸265

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸200

$0.47 ₸224

-10.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₸596

$1.29 ₸615

-3.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸353

$0.87 ₸415

-14.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 ₸903

$2.38 ₸1,136

-20.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 ₸5,034

$8.78 ₸4,184

20.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸402

$0.67 ₸320

25.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₸988

$0.81 ₸387

155.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸115

$0.15 ₸73.3

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 ₸8,398

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ₸565

$0.97 ₸460

22.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸339

$0.62 ₸297

14.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ₸2,203

$4.75 ₸2,262

-2.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸227

$0.46 ₸221

4.35%

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

$23.7K ₸11.3M

$20.3K ₸9.7M

16.58%

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

$27.0K ₸12.8M

$25.0K ₸11.9M

7.84%

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

$63.6 ₸30.3K

$40.64 ₸19.4K

56.52%

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

$8.56 ₸4,076

$7.71 ₸3,673

11.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.78 ₸6,566

$9.29 ₸4,425

48.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.18 ₸22.9K

$31.69 ₸15.1K

52.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.54 ₸10.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 ₸2,540

$2.79 ₸1,328

91.04%

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

$258 ₸123.0K

$129 ₸61.6K

99.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.2M

$2,385 ₸1.1M

441.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.9 ₸39.9K

$58.4 ₸27.8K

43.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.77 ₸20.8K

$35.67 ₸17.0K

22.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ₸47.2K

$62.5 ₸29.8K

58.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₸57.5K

$79.7 ₸38.0K

51.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₸307.5K

$253 ₸120.7K

154.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸198.7K

$177 ₸84.5K

135.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₸555.8K

$445 ₸211.8K

162.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$764 ₸363.8K

$367 ₸174.7K

108.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,359 ₸1.1M

$755 ₸359.8K

212.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 ₸654.4K

$609 ₸290.1K

125.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$795 ₸378.5K

$538 ₸256.2K

47.75%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Aktau: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Almaty versus $253 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 48% 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 $39.00 in Almaty versus $40.00 in Aktau. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Almaty vs $178 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 50% 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 $1,601 per month in Almaty and $1,071 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 $39.00 in Almaty and $40.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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 $714, than in Almaty at $1,067. 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 $714 versus $1,067 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.