Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Ekibastuz Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Ekibastuz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $710 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,122 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $1,534 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

Almaty costs about 49% more than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Ekibastuz are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 21% lower, Ekibastuz 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 ₸3,934

$8.54 ₸4,185

-5.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 ₸18.9K

$29.46 ₸14.4K

30.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,416

$5.82 ₸2,852

19.76%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,174

$1.40 ₸687

71.43%

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

$0.98 ₸478

$0.91 ₸446

7.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸277

$0.57 ₸278

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸687

$1.15 ₸561

21.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₸1,464

$2.88 ₸1,410

3.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸644

$1.00 ₸492

31.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸293

$0.46 ₸224

30.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸756

$1.40 ₸687

10.00%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸852

$1.72 ₸845

1.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₸4,773

$9.58 ₸4,694

1.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 ₸2,301

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,678

$6.98 ₸3,420

7.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸661

$1.35 ₸663

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸970

$1.81 ₸889

9.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸957

$1.99 ₸973

-2.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸1,014

$1.91 ₸935

8.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸308

$0.56 ₸274

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸206

$0.41 ₸200

2.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸608

$0.94 ₸458

31.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸346

$0.75 ₸369

-5.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸965

$1.88 ₸921

4.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₸4,947

$9.35 ₸4,583

7.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸433

$1.02 ₸498

-13.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₸999

$1.70 ₸835

20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸118

$0.21 ₸103

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸567

$1.01 ₸493

14.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸343

$0.68 ₸332

2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,355

$4.32 ₸2,119

11.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸240

$0.38 ₸184

28.95%

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

$23.2K ₸11.4M

$21.0K ₸10.3M

10.61%

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

$27.2K ₸13.4M

$25.1K ₸12.3M

8.61%

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

$63.8 ₸31.3K

$53.3 ₸26.1K

19.69%

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

$8.60 ₸4,213

$8.03 ₸3,935

7.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.83 ₸6,777

$13.57 ₸6,650

1.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₸23.9K

$33.86 ₸16.6K

43.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.4K

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,505

$5.15 ₸2,525

-0.78%

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

$267 ₸130.8K

$241 ₸118.0K

10.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.3M

$4,908 ₸2.4M

162.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 ₸41.1K

$56.2 ₸27.5K

49.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₸21.3K

$34.85 ₸17.1K

24.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 ₸47.4K

$88.4 ₸43.3K

9.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₸58.5K

$86.1 ₸42.2K

38.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 ₸325.9K

$212 ₸103.7K

214.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸205.7K

$160 ₸78.3K

162.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₸575.8K

$394 ₸193.1K

198.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₸378.9K

$301 ₸147.7K

156.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 ₸1.0M

$1,037 ₸507.9K

106.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 ₸614.6K

$782 ₸383.1K

60.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 ₸386.9K

$309 ₸151.2K

155.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

16.12

14.08%

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

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ekibastuz: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $212 in Ekibastuz. 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 156% 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 $38.00 in Almaty versus $29.00 in Ekibastuz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $178 – making Ekibastuz 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 Ekibastuz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 49%, 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 $1,065 in Ekibastuz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ekibastuz, 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 $1,057 in Almaty and $710 in Ekibastuz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Almaty and $241 in Ekibastuz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ekibastuz, where all-in costs run around $710, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Ekibastuz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ekibastuz – 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 Ekibastuz. 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.