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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,038 per month in Almaty vs $898 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,678 per month in Almaty vs $1,407 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,318 per month in Almaty vs $1,916 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 23% lower, Astana 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.99 ₸3,756

$8.23 ₸3,868

-2.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.80 ₸18.7K

$29.11 ₸13.7K

36.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 ₸3,168

$5.95 ₸2,797

13.28%

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₸1,079

$2.15 ₸1,009

6.51%

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

$0.97 ₸455

$0.94 ₸442

3.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₸265

$0.54 ₸252

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₸663

$1.19 ₸559

18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ₸1,370

$2.92 ₸1,371

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸616

$0.93 ₸439

40.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₸255

$0.47 ₸221

14.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 ₸720

$1.40 ₸660

9.29%

Eggs

$1.78 ₸835

$1.71 ₸804

4.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 ₸4,527

$9.33 ₸4,386

3.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,196

$4.74 ₸2,229

-1.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.84 ₸3,685

$7.10 ₸3,339

10.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸631

$1.32 ₸622

1.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 ₸924

$1.83 ₸862

7.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸887

$1.98 ₸930

-4.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ₸958

$1.95 ₸919

4.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ₸289

$0.59 ₸276

5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸187

$0.37 ₸176

8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸582

$1.03 ₸483

20.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸353

$0.75 ₸351

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.99 ₸933

$1.81 ₸850

9.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.54 ₸4,015

$8.47 ₸3,980

0.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸390

$0.99 ₸467

-16.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₸1,006

$1.65 ₸774

29.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸113

$0.21 ₸98.3

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.16 ₸8,537

$14.43 ₸6,785

25.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸566

$1.71 ₸804

-29.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸316

$0.68 ₸318

-1.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 ₸2,169

$4.39 ₸2,064

5.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸230

$0.51 ₸238

-3.92%

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

$23.7K ₸11.1M

$20.5K ₸9.6M

15.58%

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

$27.3K ₸12.8M

$25.4K ₸11.9M

7.78%

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

$63.7 ₸29.9K

$54.5 ₸25.6K

16.92%

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

$8.97 ₸4,218

$8.14 ₸3,826

10.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.93 ₸6,547

$13.70 ₸6,442

1.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.63 ₸22.9K

$50.0 ₸23.5K

-2.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.11 ₸9,922

$11.30 ₸5,312

86.81%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,401

$5.20 ₸2,446

-1.73%

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

$261 ₸122.6K

$235 ₸110.3K

11.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₸6.0M

$4,809 ₸2.3M

163.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 ₸39.9K

$56.2 ₸26.4K

51.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 ₸20.7K

$34.80 ₸16.4K

26.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 ₸45.7K

$87.4 ₸41.1K

11.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₸57.0K

$87.9 ₸41.3K

37.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 ₸308.2K

$481 ₸225.9K

36.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$422 ₸198.5K

$324 ₸152.2K

30.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 ₸558.4K

$851 ₸399.9K

39.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₸357.3K

$605 ₸284.6K

25.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,105 ₸989.4K

$1,292 ₸607.1K

62.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,289 ₸605.8K

$943 ₸443.5K

36.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$822 ₸386.4K

$723 ₸339.8K

13.70%

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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Astana: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $656 in Almaty versus $481 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 14% 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 $40 in Almaty versus $29 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $176 – 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 $1,557 per month in Almaty and $1,346 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 $40.00 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 $1,038 in Almaty and $898 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 $898, than in Almaty at $1,038. 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.