Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Cotonou Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Cotonou

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Almaty vs $933 in Cotonou, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Almaty vs $1,498 in Cotonou, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $2,062 in Cotonou, rent included.

Almaty costs about 46% more than Cotonou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Cotonou are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Cotonou 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 ₸5,880

$5.29 F CFA 2,990

146.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.41 ₸20.0K

$36.57 F CFA 20.7K

21.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 ₸3,902

$9.83 F CFA 5,552

-11.90%

Cappuccino

$3.29 ₸1,485

$5.39 F CFA 3,046

-38.96%

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

$1.34 ₸603

$1.08 F CFA 608

24.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸368

$0.99 F CFA 557

-17.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₸1,060

$0.85 F CFA 481

176.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ₸1,755

$2.63 F CFA 1,486

48.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₸777

$3.11 F CFA 1,760

-44.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸366

$1.23 F CFA 697

-34.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 ₸925

$1.92 F CFA 1,082

6.77%

Eggs

$2.42 ₸1,089

$2.76 F CFA 1,557

-12.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 ₸5,599

$9.92 F CFA 5,605

25.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 ₸3,053

$5.65 F CFA 3,192

20.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 ₸4,983

$5.27 F CFA 2,978

109.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₸868

$4.27 F CFA 2,413

-54.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,046

$1.87 F CFA 1,057

24.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ₸1,354

$1.33 F CFA 751

125.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 ₸1,217

$2.81 F CFA 1,587

-3.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₸346

$1.31 F CFA 742

-41.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₸261

$1.82 F CFA 1,030

-68.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 ₸756

$0.48 F CFA 273

250.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸447

$1.12 F CFA 634

-11.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ₸1,193

$3.45 F CFA 1,950

-23.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 ₸4,976

$4.31 F CFA 2,437

156.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₸553

$1.26 F CFA 711

-2.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₸1,055

$1.94 F CFA 1,095

20.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸113

$1.31 F CFA 739

-80.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.52 ₸9,697

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₸587

$1.43 F CFA 809

-9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸288

$1.40 F CFA 791

-54.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.83 ₸4,880

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₸317

$1.22 F CFA 687

-42.62%

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

$22.3K ₸10.0M

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

$29.4K ₸13.2M

$24.3K F CFA 13.8M

20.69%

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

$91.2 ₸41.1K

$155 F CFA 87.6K

-41.17%

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

$10.56 ₸4,759

$35.18 F CFA 19.9K

-69.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ₸7,864

$49.94 F CFA 28.2K

-65.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.0 ₸33.8K

$51.1 F CFA 28.9K

46.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.33 ₸13.7K

$3.50 F CFA 1,976

766.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₸2,968

$8.92 F CFA 5,041

-26.12%

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

$434 ₸195.7K

$135 F CFA 76.5K

220.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₸5.3M

$5,847 F CFA 3.3M

100.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 ₸39.8K

$26.84 F CFA 15.2K

229.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.17 ₸21.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 ₸63.8K

$35.63 F CFA 20.1K

297.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₸59.3K

$70.4 F CFA 39.8K

86.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₸368.0K

$186 F CFA 105.3K

338.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₸225.8K

$175 F CFA 99.1K

185.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 ₸648.5K

$619 F CFA 349.8K

132.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 ₸406.1K

$419 F CFA 237.0K

114.86%

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

$262 F CFA 148.1K

227.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

415.25%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cotonou: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $186 in Cotonou. 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 227% 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 $44.00 in Almaty versus $37.00 in Cotonou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $230 – making Cotonou 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 Cotonou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 46%, 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 $2,051 per month in Almaty and $1,400 in Cotonou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cotonou, 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 $1,367 in Almaty and $933 in Cotonou. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Almaty and $135 in Cotonou. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cotonou, where all-in costs run around $933, than in Almaty at $1,367. In Cotonou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cotonou – 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 Cotonou. 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.