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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Almaty vs $856 in Aktobe, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Almaty vs $1,314 in Aktobe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $1,771 in Aktobe, rent included.

Almaty costs about 60% more than Aktobe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Aktobe are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Aktobe 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 ₸5,880

$6.98 ₸3,147

86.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.41 ₸20.0K

$34.55 ₸15.6K

28.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 ₸3,902

$6.53 ₸2,941

32.62%

Cappuccino

$3.29 ₸1,485

$2.15 ₸969

53.02%

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

$1.34 ₸603

$1.30 ₸587

3.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸368

$0.59 ₸265

38.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₸1,060

$1.74 ₸783

35.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ₸1,755

$2.93 ₸1,318

33.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₸777

$1.30 ₸587

32.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸366

$0.38 ₸171

113.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 ₸925

$1.08 ₸487

89.81%

Eggs

$2.42 ₸1,089

$1.58 ₸711

53.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 ₸5,599

$7.42 ₸3,343

67.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 ₸3,053

$5.71 ₸2,574

18.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 ₸4,983

$9.23 ₸4,159

19.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₸868

$1.60 ₸721

20.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,046

$2.16 ₸973

7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ₸1,354

$2.35 ₸1,059

27.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 ₸1,217

$1.98 ₸891

36.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₸346

$0.78 ₸353

-1.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₸261

$0.41 ₸184

41.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 ₸756

$0.79 ₸355

112.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸447

$0.64 ₸286

54.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ₸1,193

$2.35 ₸1,060

12.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 ₸4,976

$5.35 ₸2,412

106.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₸553

$1.12 ₸506

9.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₸1,055

$1.80 ₸810

30.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸113

$0.18 ₸82.3

38.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.52 ₸9,697

$17.79 ₸8,017

20.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₸587

$1.12 ₸504

16.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸288

$0.78 ₸353

-17.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.83 ₸4,880

$5.54 ₸2,495

95.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₸317

$0.62 ₸278

12.90%

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

$22.3K ₸10.0M

$23.3K ₸10.5M

-4.40%

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

$29.4K ₸13.2M

$30.2K ₸13.6M

-2.68%

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

$91.2 ₸41.1K

$55.5 ₸25.0K

64.40%

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

$10.56 ₸4,759

$9.96 ₸4,487

6.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ₸7,864

$21.40 ₸9,645

-18.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.0 ₸33.8K

$46.44 ₸20.9K

61.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.33 ₸13.7K

$11.90 ₸5,361

154.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₸2,968

$5.57 ₸2,510

18.31%

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

$434 ₸195.7K

$221 ₸99.4K

96.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₸5.3M

$3,209 ₸1.4M

265.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 ₸39.8K

$49.61 ₸22.4K

78.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.17 ₸21.3K

$52.4 ₸23.6K

-9.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 ₸63.8K

$112 ₸50.5K

26.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₸59.3K

$98.6 ₸44.4K

33.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₸368.0K

$310 ₸139.5K

163.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₸225.8K

$225 ₸101.3K

123.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 ₸648.5K

$460 ₸207.5K

212.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 ₸406.1K

$354 ₸159.3K

154.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,476 ₸1.1M

$829 ₸373.6K

198.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,521 ₸685.3K

$525 ₸236.7K

189.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$857 ₸386.3K

$551 ₸248.5K

55.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

21.24%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aktobe: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $310 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 $44.00 in Almaty versus $35.00 in Aktobe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $180 – 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 60%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Almaty and $1,284 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.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Almaty and $35.00 in Aktobe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aktobe, where all-in costs run around $856, than in Almaty at $1,367. 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.