Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $1,081 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,757 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $2,433 in Astana, rent included.

Almaty costs about 26% more than Astana, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Astana 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 ₸5,887

$9.99 ₸4,552

29.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 ₸20.5K

$36.61 ₸16.7K

23.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 ₸3,921

$7.67 ₸3,496

12.26%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₸1,433

$2.52 ₸1,147

25.00%

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

$1.33 ₸605

$1.11 ₸505

19.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸372

$0.63 ₸289

30.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ₸1,105

$1.43 ₸650

69.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₸1,784

$2.22 ₸1,012

76.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₸750

$1.29 ₸588

27.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸367

$0.57 ₸260

42.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ₸950

$1.62 ₸739

28.40%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,049

$2.32 ₸1,056

-0.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₸5,570

$11.42 ₸5,203

7.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₸3,032

$5.50 ₸2,508

21.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ₸4,888

$10.11 ₸4,608

6.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₸843

$1.71 ₸777

8.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,075

$2.36 ₸1,076

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,320

$2.21 ₸1,006

31.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₸1,262

$2.39 ₸1,088

15.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸343

$0.75 ₸342

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.46 ₸209

23.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₸727

$1.50 ₸685

6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸441

$0.87 ₸396

11.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,172

$2.21 ₸1,006

16.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 ₸4,899

$10.63 ₸4,843

1.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₸533

$1.31 ₸596

-10.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,084

$2.42 ₸1,104

-1.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸114

$0.23 ₸104

8.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.05 ₸9,589

$16.48 ₸7,509

27.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸604

$2.64 ₸1,205

-49.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸288

$1.10 ₸502

-42.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,970

$6.33 ₸2,883

72.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₸307

$0.58 ₸266

15.52%

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

$26.2K ₸11.9M

$23.4K ₸10.7M

12.02%

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

$29.5K ₸13.4M

$30.7K ₸14.0M

-3.91%

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

$90.4 ₸41.2K

$65.1 ₸29.7K

38.88%

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

$10.95 ₸4,988

$10.26 ₸4,673

6.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ₸7,958

$17.10 ₸7,790

2.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 ₸34.2K

$57.2 ₸26.1K

31.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.3K

$20.02 ₸9,121

46.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 ₸2,879

$6.14 ₸2,799

2.93%

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

$425 ₸193.8K

$371 ₸168.9K

14.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

$11.5K ₸5.3M

0.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₸39.5K

$66.4 ₸30.2K

30.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 ₸21.3K

$45.68 ₸20.8K

2.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.4K

$115 ₸52.5K

20.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₸60.4K

$127 ₸57.8K

4.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸360.2K

$545 ₸248.5K

44.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸226.7K

$378 ₸172.4K

31.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 ₸652.4K

$1,153 ₸525.5K

24.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 ₸415.6K

$750 ₸341.5K

21.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,446 ₸1.1M

$1,437 ₸654.8K

70.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₸685.2K

$1,072 ₸488.2K

40.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$850 ₸387.0K

$853 ₸388.5K

-0.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

16.2

27.22%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Last update for Astana: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty versus $545 in Astana. 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 0% higher in Astana, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Almaty versus $37.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $222 – making Astana 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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 26%, 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 $2,046 per month in Almaty and $1,621 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Astana, 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 $45.00 in Almaty and $37.00 in Astana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,364 in Almaty and $1,081 in Astana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $1,081, than in Almaty at $1,364. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Astana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Astana. 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.