Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Cheras Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Cheras

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,080 per month in Almaty vs $841 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Almaty vs $1,279 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,304 per month in Almaty vs $1,716 in Cheras, rent included.

Almaty costs about 28% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 19% lower, Cheras 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 ₸3,719

$3.63 MYR 14.84

117.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.58 ₸18.2K

$18.90 MYR 77.3

104.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₸3,255

$4.78 MYR 19.55

44.77%

Cappuccino

$2.43 ₸1,142

$2.97 MYR 12.13

-18.18%

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

$0.99 ₸464

$0.83 MYR 3.40

19.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸247

$0.49 MYR 2.01

6.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸639

$4.61 MYR 18.85

-70.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,387

$6.71 MYR 27.45

-56.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸617

$1.89 MYR 7.72

-30.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸258

$0.95 MYR 3.90

-42.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ₸716

$1.29 MYR 5.27

17.83%

Eggs

$1.76 ₸829

$2.07 MYR 8.46

-14.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 ₸4,549

$15.55 MYR 63.6

-37.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,201

$3.61 MYR 14.78

29.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 ₸3,619

$7.44 MYR 30.44

3.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ₸656

$2.64 MYR 10.80

-47.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸901

$1.76 MYR 7.19

8.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸915

$2.48 MYR 10.14

-21.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ₸971

$1.21 MYR 4.96

70.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸275

$1.46 MYR 5.98

-60.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ₸202

$1.33 MYR 5.46

-67.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸613

$0.94 MYR 3.84

38.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸347

$0.51 MYR 2.10

45.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 ₸913

$4.12 MYR 16.85

-52.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₸5,018

$14.31 MYR 58.5

-25.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸387

$2.88 MYR 11.76

-71.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₸991

$4.00 MYR 16.35

-47.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸114

$0.46 MYR 1.87

-47.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 ₸8,631

$11.89 MYR 48.62

54.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸567

$0.97 MYR 3.97

23.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸336

$1.02 MYR 4.18

-30.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ₸2,180

$9.26 MYR 37.89

-50.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₸245

$0.47 MYR 1.91

10.64%

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

$23.6K ₸11.1M

$49.5K MYR 202.4K

-52.39%

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

$27.4K ₸12.9M

$30.9K MYR 126.5K

-11.49%

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

$62.4 ₸29.4K

$41.01 MYR 168

52.26%

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

$8.56 ₸4,028

$9.40 MYR 38.45

-8.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,546

$31.02 MYR 127

-55.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 ₸22.1K

$41.52 MYR 170

12.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.46 ₸10.1K

$5.97 MYR 24.43

259.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ₸2,448

$4.88 MYR 19.97

6.56%

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

$268 ₸126.0K

$186 MYR 762

43.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K ₸6.1M

$6,780 MYR 27.7K

92.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 ₸39.9K

$64.2 MYR 263

32.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ₸20.9K

$34.06 MYR 139

30.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 ₸46.8K

$72.3 MYR 296

37.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.4K

$47.91 MYR 196

149.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 ₸302.9K

$376 MYR 1,539

71.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸200.0K

$236 MYR 965

80.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 ₸544.9K

$652 MYR 2,665

77.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₸365.1K

$430 MYR 1,759

80.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₸1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,364 ₸641.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$834 ₸392.6K

$1,164 MYR 4,760

-28.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

4.07

351.84%

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

Last update for Almaty: July 14, 2026

Last update for Cheras: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $643 in Almaty versus $376 in Cheras. 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 40% higher in Cheras, 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 $19.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Almaty vs $237 in Cheras – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Cheras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 28%, 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 $1,620 per month in Almaty and $1,262 in Cheras. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cheras, 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 $39.00 in Almaty and $19.00 in Cheras. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,080 in Almaty and $841 in Cheras. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cheras, where all-in costs run around $841, than in Almaty at $1,080. In Cheras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cheras – 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 Cheras. 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.