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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,080 per month in Almaty vs $670 in Aktobe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Almaty vs $1,054 in Aktobe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,304 per month in Almaty vs $1,438 in Aktobe, rent included.

Almaty costs about 61% more than Aktobe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Aktobe are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 19% lower, Aktobe 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 ₸3,719

$8.00 ₸3,764

-1.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.58 ₸18.2K

$29.37 ₸13.8K

31.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₸3,255

$6.29 ₸2,961

10.02%

Cappuccino

$2.43 ₸1,142

$1.78 ₸838

36.52%

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

$0.99 ₸464

$1.44 ₸680

-31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸247

$0.45 ₸214

15.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸639

$1.60 ₸753

-15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,387

$2.10 ₸990

40.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸617

$1.10 ₸517

19.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸258

$0.27 ₸128

103.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ₸716

$1.06 ₸498

43.40%

Eggs

$1.76 ₸829

$1.50 ₸708

17.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 ₸4,549

$8.04 ₸3,787

20.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,201

$4.78 ₸2,250

-2.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 ₸3,619

$7.04 ₸3,316

9.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ₸656

$1.42 ₸667

-2.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸901

$2.00 ₸940

-4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸915

$2.39 ₸1,124

-18.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ₸971

$1.90 ₸893

8.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸275

$0.80 ₸375

-27.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ₸202

$0.31 ₸147

38.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸613

$0.82 ₸384

58.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸347

$0.67 ₸316

10.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 ₸913

$1.89 ₸890

2.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₸5,018

$5.40 ₸2,543

97.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸387

$0.95 ₸449

-13.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₸991

$1.53 ₸719

37.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸114

$0.14 ₸66.3

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 ₸8,631

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸567

$1.01 ₸474

18.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸336

$0.96 ₸451

-26.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ₸2,180

$4.77 ₸2,244

-2.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₸245

$0.49 ₸229

6.12%

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

$23.6K ₸11.1M

$17.9K ₸8.4M

31.46%

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

$27.4K ₸12.9M

$19.5K ₸9.2M

40.32%

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

$62.4 ₸29.4K

$40.67 ₸19.1K

53.53%

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

$8.56 ₸4,028

$10.26 ₸4,832

-16.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,546

$10.83 ₸5,099

28.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 ₸22.1K

$29.27 ₸13.8K

60.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.46 ₸10.1K

$9.66 ₸4,549

122.15%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ₸2,448

$4.78 ₸2,249

8.79%

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

$268 ₸126.0K

$215 ₸101.3K

24.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K ₸6.1M

$4,819 ₸2.3M

170.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 ₸39.9K

$35.04 ₸16.5K

142.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ₸20.9K

$29.64 ₸14.0K

50.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 ₸46.8K

$91.0 ₸42.8K

9.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.4K

$62.8 ₸29.6K

90.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 ₸302.9K

$218 ₸102.4K

195.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸200.0K

$186 ₸87.6K

128.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 ₸544.9K

$354 ₸166.9K

226.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₸365.1K

$279 ₸131.3K

178.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₸1.1M

$777 ₸365.7K

204.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,364 ₸641.9K

$510 ₸239.9K

167.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$834 ₸392.6K

$510 ₸240.1K

63.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

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

Last update for Almaty: July 14, 2026

Last update for Aktobe: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $643 in Almaty versus $218 in Aktobe. 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 64% 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 $29.00 in Aktobe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $164 – 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

Almaty vs Aktobe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,620 per month in Almaty and $1,005 in Aktobe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,080 in Almaty and $670 in Aktobe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $268 per month in Almaty and $215 in Aktobe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aktobe, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Almaty at $1,080. In Aktobe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.