Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Bloemfontein Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Bloemfontein

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Almaty vs $931 in Bloemfontein, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,689 per month in Almaty vs $1,437 in Bloemfontein, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,311 per month in Almaty vs $1,943 in Bloemfontein, rent included.

Almaty costs about 15% more than Bloemfontein, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Almaty and Bloemfontein are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 20% lower, Bloemfontein 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.97 ₸3,779

$11.01 R 181

-27.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.97 ₸18.5K

$37.94 R 625

2.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,285

$6.84 R 113

1.32%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₸1,110

$1.74 R 28.71

34.48%

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

$0.97 ₸461

$1.34 R 22.05

-27.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸250

$0.91 R 14.92

-41.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸665

$2.33 R 38.37

-39.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₸1,361

$2.30 R 37.87

24.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₸626

$0.94 R 15.55

40.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 ₸281

$0.98 R 16.21

-39.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ₸735

$2.01 R 33.12

-22.89%

Eggs

$1.77 ₸840

$2.00 R 32.86

-11.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 ₸4,467

$7.03 R 116

34.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 ₸2,155

$4.56 R 75.0

-0.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,555

$7.02 R 116

6.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸639

$1.63 R 26.85

-17.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸925

$1.22 R 20.03

59.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₸930

$1.47 R 24.28

33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ₸995

$1.35 R 22.18

55.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸276

$0.85 R 13.93

-31.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸199

$1.73 R 28.42

-75.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₸593

$1.07 R 17.60

16.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸351

$0.84 R 13.81

-11.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 ₸898

$2.58 R 42.45

-26.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 ₸5,010

$4.79 R 78.8

120.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸400

$1.52 R 25.01

-44.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₸983

$1.48 R 24.31

39.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸114

$0.78 R 12.82

-69.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 ₸8,358

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ₸563

$1.09 R 17.89

9.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸337

$0.62 R 10.20

14.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ₸2,192

$3.95 R 65.0

16.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸226

$1.22 R 20.14

-60.66%

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

$23.7K ₸11.2M

$22.2K R 365.2K

6.91%

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

$27.0K ₸12.8M

$24.1K R 397.1K

11.78%

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

$63.6 ₸30.2K

$75.6 R 1,245

-15.89%

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

$8.56 ₸4,057

$30.23 R 498

-71.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.78 ₸6,535

$35.87 R 590

-61.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.18 ₸22.8K

$29.28 R 482

64.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.54 ₸10.2K

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 ₸2,528

$5.71 R 94.0

-6.65%

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

$258 ₸122.5K

$129 R 2,116

100.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.1M

$4,359 R 71.8K

196.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.9 ₸39.8K

$55.3 R 910

51.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.77 ₸20.8K

$31.49 R 518

39.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ₸47.0K

$130 R 2,139

-23.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₸57.2K

$92.4 R 1,520

30.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₸306.0K

$289 R 4,762

123.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸197.8K

$293 R 4,816

42.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₸553.2K

$482 R 7,943

141.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$764 ₸362.1K

$511 R 8,414

49.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,359 ₸1.1M

$479 R 7,893

391.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 ₸651.3K

$636 R 10.5K

116.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$795 ₸376.7K

$1,272 R 20.9K

-37.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

11.47

60.33%

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

Last update for Almaty: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bloemfontein: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Almaty versus $289 in Bloemfontein. 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 60% higher in Bloemfontein, 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 $39.00 in Almaty versus $38.00 in Bloemfontein. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $169 – making Bloemfontein 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 Bloemfontein: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,601 per month in Almaty and $1,396 in Bloemfontein. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bloemfontein, 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 $1,067 in Almaty and $931 in Bloemfontein. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $258 per month in Almaty and $129 in Bloemfontein. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bloemfontein, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Almaty at $1,067. In Bloemfontein it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bloemfontein – 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 Bloemfontein. 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.