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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Almaty costs about 59% more than Aktobe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 ₸3,934

$7.95 ₸3,898

1.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 ₸18.9K

$29.27 ₸14.3K

31.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,416

$6.29 ₸3,083

10.81%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,174

$1.78 ₸873

34.83%

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

$0.98 ₸478

$1.40 ₸684

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸277

$0.49 ₸240

16.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸687

$1.53 ₸752

-8.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₸1,464

$2.18 ₸1,068

37.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸644

$1.15 ₸562

13.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸293

$0.27 ₸133

122.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸756

$1.10 ₸537

40.00%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸852

$1.47 ₸719

18.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₸4,773

$8.27 ₸4,053

17.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 ₸2,301

$4.82 ₸2,363

-2.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,678

$7.01 ₸3,433

6.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸661

$1.37 ₸670

-1.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸970

$1.99 ₸977

-0.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸957

$2.32 ₸1,137

-15.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸1,014

$1.92 ₸941

7.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸308

$0.79 ₸385

-20.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸206

$0.29 ₸140

44.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸608

$0.75 ₸368

65.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸346

$0.63 ₸311

12.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸965

$1.83 ₸896

7.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₸4,947

$5.05 ₸2,473

99.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸433

$0.93 ₸454

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₸999

$1.54 ₸757

32.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸118

$0.18 ₸86.4

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸567

$0.99 ₸485

17.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸343

$1.03 ₸506

-32.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,355

$4.58 ₸2,244

4.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸240

$0.49 ₸238

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

$23.2K ₸11.4M

$17.6K ₸8.6M

31.72%

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

$27.2K ₸13.4M

$19.3K ₸9.5M

40.96%

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

$63.8 ₸31.3K

$40.47 ₸19.8K

57.72%

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

$8.60 ₸4,213

$10.26 ₸5,028

-16.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.83 ₸6,777

$10.78 ₸5,281

28.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₸23.9K

$28.77 ₸14.1K

69.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.4K

$9.68 ₸4,745

119.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,505

$4.95 ₸2,428

3.23%

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

$267 ₸130.8K

$212 ₸103.7K

26.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.3M

$4,966 ₸2.4M

159.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 ₸41.1K

$33.99 ₸16.7K

147.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₸21.3K

$29.76 ₸14.6K

46.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 ₸47.4K

$90.9 ₸44.6K

6.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₸58.5K

$63.9 ₸31.3K

87.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 ₸325.9K

$225 ₸110.1K

195.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸205.7K

$189 ₸92.4K

122.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₸575.8K

$348 ₸170.6K

237.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₸378.9K

$282 ₸138.2K

174.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 ₸1.0M

$775 ₸379.8K

176.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 ₸614.6K

$487 ₸238.6K

157.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 ₸386.9K

$510 ₸249.9K

54.83%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aktobe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $225 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 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 $38.00 in Almaty versus $29.00 in Aktobe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $163 – 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 59%, 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 $1,586 per month in Almaty and $999 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 $1,057 in Almaty and $666 in Aktobe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Almaty and $212 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 $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.

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.