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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $912 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,422 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $1,933 in Astana, rent included.

Almaty costs about 16% more than Astana, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 21% lower, Astana 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 ₸3,900

$8.10 ₸3,936

-0.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 ₸18.7K

$28.85 ₸14.0K

33.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,387

$5.76 ₸2,797

21.01%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,164

$2.19 ₸1,066

9.59%

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

$0.98 ₸474

$0.91 ₸444

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸275

$0.53 ₸259

7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸681

$1.14 ₸554

22.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₸1,451

$2.95 ₸1,432

1.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸639

$1.01 ₸492

29.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸290

$0.50 ₸245

20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸749

$1.40 ₸680

10.00%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸844

$1.79 ₸868

-2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₸4,731

$9.34 ₸4,537

4.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 ₸2,281

$4.73 ₸2,300

-0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,646

$6.96 ₸3,381

7.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸655

$1.36 ₸661

-0.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸962

$1.87 ₸907

5.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸949

$1.92 ₸935

1.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸1,005

$1.97 ₸959

5.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸306

$0.58 ₸283

8.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸205

$0.38 ₸183

10.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸603

$1.02 ₸495

21.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸343

$0.75 ₸364

-5.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸957

$1.81 ₸878

8.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₸4,903

$9.14 ₸4,440

10.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸429

$1.02 ₸497

-13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₸991

$1.70 ₸823

20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸117

$0.21 ₸102

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,625

$14.56 ₸7,075

21.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸562

$1.79 ₸868

-35.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸340

$0.71 ₸345

-1.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,334

$4.51 ₸2,191

6.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸237

$0.47 ₸226

4.26%

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

$23.2K ₸11.3M

$20.7K ₸10.1M

11.89%

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

$27.2K ₸13.2M

$24.7K ₸12.0M

10.08%

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

$63.8 ₸31.0K

$53.9 ₸26.2K

18.34%

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

$8.60 ₸4,176

$8.00 ₸3,888

7.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.83 ₸6,718

$13.90 ₸6,751

-0.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₸23.6K

$49.83 ₸24.2K

-2.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.3K

$11.16 ₸5,419

90.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,483

$5.30 ₸2,572

-3.58%

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

$267 ₸129.6K

$238 ₸115.8K

12.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.2M

$4,790 ₸2.3M

168.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 ₸40.8K

$55.8 ₸27.1K

50.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₸21.1K

$34.85 ₸16.9K

24.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 ₸47.0K

$88.8 ₸43.1K

9.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₸58.0K

$86.1 ₸41.8K

38.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 ₸323.1K

$478 ₸232.1K

39.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸203.9K

$328 ₸159.2K

28.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₸570.8K

$848 ₸412.2K

38.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₸375.6K

$598 ₸290.3K

29.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 ₸1.0M

$1,378 ₸669.5K

55.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 ₸609.2K

$993 ₸482.3K

26.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 ₸383.5K

$798 ₸387.8K

-1.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

16.12

14.08%

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

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $478 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 1% 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 $38.00 in Almaty versus $29.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $178 – 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 16%, 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 $1,367 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 $38.00 in Almaty and $29.00 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 $1,057 in Almaty and $912 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 $912, than in Almaty at $1,057. 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.