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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,080 per month in Almaty vs $707 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Almaty vs $1,117 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,304 per month in Almaty vs $1,527 in Ekibastuz, rent included.

Almaty costs about 53% more than Ekibastuz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Ekibastuz are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 19% lower, Ekibastuz 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 ₸3,713

$8.19 ₸3,850

-3.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.58 ₸18.1K

$29.60 ₸13.9K

30.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₸3,250

$5.97 ₸2,808

15.91%

Cappuccino

$2.43 ₸1,140

$1.36 ₸639

78.68%

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

$0.99 ₸464

$0.96 ₸450

3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸246

$0.56 ₸263

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸638

$1.20 ₸564

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,385

$2.86 ₸1,346

3.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸616

$0.99 ₸467

32.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸258

$0.47 ₸220

17.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ₸715

$1.45 ₸680

4.83%

Eggs

$1.76 ₸828

$1.77 ₸834

-0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 ₸4,542

$9.50 ₸4,464

1.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,197

$4.81 ₸2,262

-2.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 ₸3,613

$7.02 ₸3,301

9.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ₸655

$1.35 ₸637

2.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸900

$1.86 ₸875

2.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸914

$1.99 ₸937

-2.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ₸970

$1.88 ₸885

9.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸275

$0.58 ₸274

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ₸202

$0.38 ₸178

13.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸612

$0.95 ₸448

36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸346

$0.74 ₸350

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 ₸912

$1.88 ₸885

3.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₸5,010

$9.29 ₸4,368

14.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸386

$0.99 ₸467

-17.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₸990

$1.68 ₸788

25.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸113

$0.23 ₸108

4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 ₸8,617

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸566

$1.00 ₸468

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸335

$0.62 ₸293

14.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ₸2,177

$4.44 ₸2,086

4.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₸245

$0.38 ₸178

36.84%

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

$23.6K ₸11.1M

$20.5K ₸9.6M

15.04%

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

$27.4K ₸12.9M

$25.2K ₸11.8M

8.70%

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

$62.4 ₸29.3K

$53.2 ₸25.0K

17.35%

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

$8.56 ₸4,022

$8.30 ₸3,902

3.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,535

$13.62 ₸6,402

2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 ₸22.0K

$33.48 ₸15.7K

39.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.46 ₸10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ₸2,445

$5.14 ₸2,415

1.17%

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

$268 ₸125.8K

$240 ₸113.0K

11.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K ₸6.1M

$4,944 ₸2.3M

163.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 ₸39.9K

$55.7 ₸26.2K

52.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ₸20.9K

$35.67 ₸16.8K

24.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 ₸46.7K

$88.4 ₸41.5K

12.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.3K

$86.9 ₸40.8K

37.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 ₸302.4K

$211 ₸99.3K

204.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸199.7K

$161 ₸75.9K

163.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 ₸544.0K

$386 ₸181.3K

200.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₸364.5K

$294 ₸138.0K

164.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₸1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,364 ₸640.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$834 ₸392.0K

$320 ₸150.2K

160.94%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ekibastuz: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $643 in Almaty versus $211 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 $39.00 in Almaty versus $30.00 in Ekibastuz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $179 – 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 53%, 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 $1,620 per month in Almaty and $1,060 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 $1,080 in Almaty and $707 in Ekibastuz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $268 per month in Almaty and $240 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 $707, than in Almaty at $1,080. 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.