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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,080 per month in Almaty vs $750 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Almaty vs $1,184 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,304 per month in Almaty vs $1,617 in Karaganda, rent included.

Almaty costs about 44% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 19% lower, Karaganda 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 ₸3,719

$8.45 ₸3,976

-6.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.58 ₸18.2K

$29.19 ₸13.7K

32.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₸3,255

$4.97 ₸2,337

39.24%

Cappuccino

$2.43 ₸1,142

$1.85 ₸872

31.35%

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

$0.99 ₸464

$0.65 ₸305

52.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸247

$0.46 ₸217

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸639

$1.01 ₸475

34.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,387

$2.96 ₸1,393

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸617

$1.02 ₸478

28.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸258

$0.46 ₸217

19.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ₸716

$1.24 ₸582

22.58%

Eggs

$1.76 ₸829

$1.72 ₸810

2.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 ₸4,549

$9.63 ₸4,533

0.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,201

$4.26 ₸2,007

9.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 ₸3,619

$7.18 ₸3,381

7.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ₸656

$1.30 ₸614

6.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸901

$1.43 ₸673

33.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸915

$1.97 ₸929

-1.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ₸971

$1.93 ₸907

6.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸275

$0.59 ₸279

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ₸202

$0.38 ₸177

13.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸613

$1.01 ₸476

28.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸347

$0.75 ₸352

-1.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 ₸913

$1.74 ₸818

11.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₸5,018

$8.02 ₸3,774

32.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸387

$1.00 ₸470

-18.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₸991

$1.69 ₸796

24.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸114

$0.19 ₸88.8

26.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 ₸8,631

$11.90 ₸5,601

54.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸567

$1.72 ₸810

-30.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸336

$0.43 ₸201

65.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ₸2,180

$4.42 ₸2,082

4.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₸245

$0.48 ₸227

8.33%

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

$23.6K ₸11.1M

$19.2K ₸9.1M

22.46%

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

$27.4K ₸12.9M

$25.4K ₸11.9M

7.89%

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

$62.4 ₸29.4K

$54.0 ₸25.4K

15.69%

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

$8.56 ₸4,028

$8.42 ₸3,963

1.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,546

$13.22 ₸6,221

5.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 ₸22.1K

$31.87 ₸15.0K

46.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.46 ₸10.1K

$11.87 ₸5,586

80.79%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ₸2,448

$4.56 ₸2,146

14.04%

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

$268 ₸126.0K

$242 ₸114.0K

10.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K ₸6.1M

$4,868 ₸2.3M

167.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 ₸39.9K

$55.5 ₸26.1K

52.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ₸20.9K

$35.07 ₸16.5K

26.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 ₸46.8K

$89.1 ₸41.9K

11.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.4K

$86.0 ₸40.5K

39.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 ₸302.9K

$331 ₸155.9K

94.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸200.0K

$210 ₸98.7K

102.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 ₸544.9K

$573 ₸269.6K

102.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₸365.1K

$398 ₸187.5K

94.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₸1.1M

$996 ₸469.0K

137.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,364 ₸641.9K

$684 ₸321.9K

99.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$834 ₸392.6K

$533 ₸251.0K

56.42%

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 Karaganda: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $643 in Almaty versus $331 in Karaganda. 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 56% 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 $29.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $171 – making Karaganda 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 Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 44%, 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 $1,125 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaganda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Almaty and $29.00 in Karaganda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,080 in Almaty and $750 in Karaganda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Almaty at $1,080. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Karaganda – 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 Karaganda. 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.