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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $831 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,274 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $1,717 in Cheras, rent included.

Almaty costs about 27% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 21% lower, Cheras 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 ₸3,934

$3.44 MYR 13.63

133.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 ₸18.9K

$18.78 MYR 74.5

104.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,416

$4.76 MYR 18.88

46.43%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,174

$2.90 MYR 11.50

-17.24%

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

$0.98 ₸478

$0.84 MYR 3.35

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸277

$0.49 MYR 1.94

16.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸687

$4.81 MYR 19.05

-70.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₸1,464

$6.66 MYR 26.40

-55.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸644

$1.82 MYR 7.22

-28.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸293

$0.98 MYR 3.89

-38.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸756

$1.30 MYR 5.14

18.46%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸852

$2.16 MYR 8.56

-19.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₸4,773

$15.25 MYR 60.5

-36.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 ₸2,301

$3.65 MYR 14.48

28.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,678

$7.67 MYR 30.41

-2.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸661

$2.74 MYR 10.87

-50.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸970

$1.66 MYR 6.60

19.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸957

$2.56 MYR 10.17

-23.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸1,014

$1.22 MYR 4.82

69.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸308

$1.45 MYR 5.75

-56.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸206

$1.35 MYR 5.33

-68.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸608

$0.88 MYR 3.49

40.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸346

$0.55 MYR 2.18

29.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸965

$4.21 MYR 16.69

-53.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₸4,947

$14.45 MYR 57.3

-30.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸433

$2.74 MYR 10.87

-67.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₸999

$3.81 MYR 15.09

-46.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸118

$0.48 MYR 1.91

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,701

$11.66 MYR 46.22

52.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸567

$1.01 MYR 4.02

14.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸343

$1.02 MYR 4.05

-31.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,355

$9.22 MYR 36.57

-47.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸240

$0.47 MYR 1.86

4.26%

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

$23.2K ₸11.4M

$48.8K MYR 193.6K

-52.47%

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

$27.2K ₸13.4M

$31.4K MYR 124.5K

-13.21%

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

$63.8 ₸31.3K

$40.52 MYR 161

57.53%

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

$8.60 ₸4,213

$9.37 MYR 37.17

-8.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.83 ₸6,777

$31.21 MYR 124

-55.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₸23.9K

$40.69 MYR 161

19.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.4K

$5.93 MYR 23.49

258.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,505

$5.04 MYR 20.00

1.39%

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

$267 ₸130.8K

$188 MYR 744

42.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.3M

$6,832 MYR 27.1K

88.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 ₸41.1K

$63.9 MYR 253

31.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₸21.3K

$34.51 MYR 137

25.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 ₸47.4K

$73.1 MYR 290

32.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₸58.5K

$48.54 MYR 192

146.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 ₸325.9K

$379 MYR 1,504

75.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸205.7K

$236 MYR 935

77.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₸575.8K

$642 MYR 2,547

82.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₸378.9K

$431 MYR 1,709

79.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 ₸1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 ₸614.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 ₸386.9K

$1,212 MYR 4,806

-34.87%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Cheras: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $379 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 54% 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 $38.00 in Almaty versus $19.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Almaty vs $236 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 27%, 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 $1,247 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 $38.00 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 $1,057 in Almaty and $831 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 $831, than in Almaty at $1,057. 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.