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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Almaty vs $1,143 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Almaty vs $1,558 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $1,973 in Cheras, rent included.

Almaty costs about 20% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Cheras 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 ₸5,880

$3.67 MYR 14.94

255.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.41 ₸20.0K

$24.62 MYR 100

80.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 ₸3,902

$4.81 MYR 19.58

80.04%

Cappuccino

$3.29 ₸1,485

$3.11 MYR 12.66

5.79%

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

$1.34 ₸603

$0.86 MYR 3.50

55.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸368

$0.51 MYR 2.08

60.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₸1,060

$4.43 MYR 18.02

-46.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ₸1,755

$6.35 MYR 25.83

-38.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₸777

$1.91 MYR 7.75

-9.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸366

$1.04 MYR 4.22

-22.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 ₸925

$1.44 MYR 5.85

42.36%

Eggs

$2.42 ₸1,089

$1.85 MYR 7.52

30.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 ₸5,599

$18.02 MYR 73.3

-31.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 ₸3,053

$4.52 MYR 18.40

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 ₸4,983

$10.99 MYR 44.69

0.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₸868

$3.56 MYR 14.47

-45.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,046

$1.87 MYR 7.61

24.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ₸1,354

$2.66 MYR 10.82

12.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 ₸1,217

$1.68 MYR 6.81

60.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₸346

$2.11 MYR 8.60

-63.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₸261

$1.70 MYR 6.91

-65.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 ₸756

$1.34 MYR 5.46

25.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸447

$0.51 MYR 2.08

94.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ₸1,193

$4.33 MYR 17.60

-38.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 ₸4,976

$14.05 MYR 57.1

-21.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₸553

$2.80 MYR 11.38

-56.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₸1,055

$3.12 MYR 12.69

-25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸113

$0.73 MYR 2.96

-65.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.52 ₸9,697

$12.42 MYR 50.5

73.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₸587

$1.27 MYR 5.17

2.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸288

$0.35 MYR 1.44

82.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.83 ₸4,880

$9.50 MYR 38.63

14.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₸317

$0.79 MYR 3.21

-11.39%

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

$22.3K ₸10.0M

$42.9K MYR 174.7K

-48.11%

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

$29.4K ₸13.2M

$34.8K MYR 141.7K

-15.66%

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

$91.2 ₸41.1K

$49.55 MYR 202

84.08%

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

$10.56 ₸4,759

$11.27 MYR 45.83

-6.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ₸7,864

$27.69 MYR 113

-36.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.0 ₸33.8K

$51.2 MYR 208

46.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.33 ₸13.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₸2,968

$4.89 MYR 19.88

34.76%

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

$434 ₸195.7K

$163 MYR 662

166.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₸5.3M

$4,548 MYR 18.5K

158.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 ₸39.8K

$65.2 MYR 265

35.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.17 ₸21.3K

$30.08 MYR 122

56.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 ₸63.8K

$81.5 MYR 331

73.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₸59.3K

$85.1 MYR 346

54.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₸368.0K

$956 MYR 3,888

-14.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₸225.8K

$473 MYR 1,925

5.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 ₸648.5K

$747 MYR 3,040

92.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 ₸406.1K

$487 MYR 1,980

85.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,476 ₸1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,521 ₸685.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$857 ₸386.3K

$1,174 MYR 4,776

-26.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

4.06

407.64%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cheras: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $956 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 37% 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 $44.00 in Almaty versus $25.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Almaty vs $270 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 20%, 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 $2,051 per month in Almaty and $1,715 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 $44.00 in Almaty and $25.00 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 $1,367 in Almaty and $1,143 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 $1,143, than in Almaty at $1,367. 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.