Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Karaganda

😐 Solo nomad: Almaty is 28.8% more expensive than Karaganda without rent, and 44% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Almaty is 25.2% more expensive than Karaganda without rent, and 38.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72 ₸3,948
$8.28 ₸4,235
-6.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.19 ₸20K
$28.91 ₸14.8K
35.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.76 ₸3,456
$4.77 ₸2,438
41.72%
Cappuccino
$2.33 ₸1,194
$1.83 ₸934
27.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₸466
$0.64 ₸326
42.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₸295
$0.46 ₸238
26.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 ₸712
$0.94 ₸481
47.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.9 ₸1,482
$2.87 ₸1,467
1.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.3 ₸666
$1 ₸512
30.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 ₸304
$0.44 ₸222
34.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ₸795
$1.24 ₸635
25.81%
Eggs
$1.72 ₸880
$1.77 ₸906
-2.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.65 ₸4,932
$9.35 ₸4,781
3.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.53 ₸2,316
$4.26 ₸2,178
6.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.56 ₸3,864
$7.22 ₸3,692
4.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.41 ₸720
$1.3 ₸667
8.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 ₸959
$1.45 ₸739
28.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₸957
$1.93 ₸987
-3.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2 ₸1,025
$1.92 ₸984
4.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ₸298
$0.6 ₸306
-3.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.4 ₸204
$0.4 ₸206
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 ₸633
$1 ₸509
24.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.7 ₸358
$0.7 ₸356
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99 ₸1,019
$1.8 ₸920
10.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 ₸3,717
$6.14 ₸3,139
18.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ₸432
$1 ₸514
-16.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ₸1,100
$1.7 ₸868
26.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₸123
$0.21 ₸106
14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.14 ₸9,276
$11.96 ₸6,115
51.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.2 ₸614
$1.81 ₸924
-33.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 ₸336
$0.46 ₸236
43.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.6 ₸2,355
$4.46 ₸2,281
3.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸247
$0.48 ₸245
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K ₸12M
$19.3K ₸9.9M
21.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27K ₸13.8M
$25K ₸12.8M
8.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.4 ₸31.9K
$54.9 ₸28.1K
13.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78 ₸4,488
$8.1 ₸4,140
8.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.74 ₸7,026
$13.07 ₸6,682
5.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.46 ₸24.8K
$32.16 ₸16.4K
50.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.75 ₸11.1K
$11.69 ₸5,976
86.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 ₸2,626
$4.63 ₸2,368
11.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$266 ₸136K
$237 ₸121K
12.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ₸6.5M
$4,789 ₸2.4M
163.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.5 ₸43.7K
$55.6 ₸28.4K
53.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.28 ₸22.6K
$34.84 ₸17.8K
27.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 ₸50.4K
$88.8 ₸45.4K
10.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₸61.7K
$86 ₸44K
40.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$661 ₸338.1K
$329 ₸168.5K
100.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 ₸216.1K
$212 ₸108.3K
99.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,156 ₸590.9K
$580 ₸296.8K
99.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$768 ₸392.5K
$402 ₸205.5K
91.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,665 ₸851.2K
$983 ₸502.8K
69.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,081 ₸553K
$626 ₸320.1K
72.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Karaganda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ₸334.2K
$434 ₸221.9K
50.61%
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: October 26, 2025

Last update for Karaganda: October 29, 2025

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