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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $824 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,307 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $1,789 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

Almaty costs about 65% more than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Almaty and Ekibastuz are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Ekibastuz 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 ₸5,887

$9.60 ₸4,373

34.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 ₸20.5K

$36.58 ₸16.7K

23.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 ₸3,921

$7.37 ₸3,358

16.82%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₸1,433

$1.50 ₸685

110.00%

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

$1.33 ₸605

$1.11 ₸506

19.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸372

$0.61 ₸277

34.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ₸1,105

$1.43 ₸653

69.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₸1,784

$2.11 ₸959

85.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₸749

$1.26 ₸574

30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸367

$0.57 ₸260

42.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ₸949

$1.68 ₸767

23.81%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,049

$2.23 ₸1,018

3.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₸5,570

$11.66 ₸5,311

4.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₸3,032

$5.75 ₸2,618

15.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ₸4,887

$10.15 ₸4,624

5.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₸843

$1.75 ₸799

5.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,075

$2.41 ₸1,100

-2.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,320

$2.30 ₸1,048

26.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₸1,261

$2.33 ₸1,063

18.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸343

$0.72 ₸330

4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.46 ₸209

23.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₸727

$1.49 ₸680

7.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸441

$0.88 ₸400

10.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,172

$2.23 ₸1,016

15.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 ₸4,898

$10.98 ₸5,002

-2.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₸533

$1.31 ₸597

-10.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,084

$2.39 ₸1,088

-0.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸114

$0.23 ₸105

8.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.05 ₸9,588

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸604

$1.10 ₸500

20.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸288

$1.05 ₸477

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,969

$6.54 ₸2,978

66.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₸307

$0.55 ₸251

21.82%

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

$26.2K ₸11.9M

$23.8K ₸10.9M

10.08%

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

$29.5K ₸13.4M

$30.1K ₸13.7M

-1.90%

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

$90.4 ₸41.2K

$64.2 ₸29.2K

40.89%

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

$10.95 ₸4,987

$10.13 ₸4,613

8.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ₸7,957

$17.33 ₸7,895

0.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 ₸34.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 ₸2,879

$6.18 ₸2,816

2.27%

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

$425 ₸193.8K

$369 ₸168.1K

15.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

$11.5K ₸5.3M

0.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₸39.5K

$68.4 ₸31.2K

26.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 ₸21.3K

$45.31 ₸20.6K

3.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.4K

$116 ₸52.6K

20.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₸60.4K

$127 ₸57.9K

4.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸360.2K

$239 ₸109.0K

230.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸226.6K

$177 ₸80.8K

180.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 ₸652.3K

$428 ₸194.9K

234.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 ₸415.6K

$330 ₸150.2K

176.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,446 ₸1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₸685.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$850 ₸387.0K

$326 ₸148.4K

160.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

16.2

27.22%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ekibastuz: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty versus $239 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 161% 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 $45.00 in Almaty versus $37.00 in Ekibastuz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $225 – 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 65%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,046 per month in Almaty and $1,236 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 $1,364 in Almaty and $824 in Ekibastuz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Almaty and $369 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 $824, than in Almaty at $1,364. 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.