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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $921 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,460 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $2,000 in Karaganda, rent included.

Almaty costs about 48% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Karaganda 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 ₸5,887

$9.55 ₸4,352

35.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 ₸20.5K

$34.35 ₸15.6K

31.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 ₸3,921

$5.28 ₸2,406

63.07%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₸1,433

$1.93 ₸881

63.21%

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

$1.33 ₸605

$0.90 ₸410

47.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸372

$0.59 ₸269

38.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ₸1,105

$1.33 ₸607

82.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₸1,784

$2.90 ₸1,321

35.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₸749

$1.24 ₸566

33.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸367

$0.44 ₸200

84.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ₸949

$1.24 ₸565

67.74%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,049

$1.75 ₸799

31.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₸5,570

$12.90 ₸5,876

-5.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₸3,032

$5.44 ₸2,477

22.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ₸4,887

$10.80 ₸4,922

-0.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₸843

$1.50 ₸682

23.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,075

$1.93 ₸880

22.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,320

$2.76 ₸1,257

5.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₸1,261

$2.06 ₸938

34.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸343

$0.65 ₸296

15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.53 ₸242

7.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₸727

$1.00 ₸458

60.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸441

$0.71 ₸325

36.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,172

$2.19 ₸998

17.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 ₸4,898

$7.93 ₸3,613

35.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₸533

$1.32 ₸600

-11.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,084

$2.06 ₸938

15.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸114

$0.21 ₸95.4

19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.05 ₸9,588

$14.94 ₸6,805

40.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸604

$1.22 ₸554

9.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸288

$1.21 ₸553

-47.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,969

$3.27 ₸1,488

233.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₸307

$0.54 ₸247

24.07%

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

$26.2K ₸11.9M

$21.5K ₸9.8M

22.05%

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

$29.5K ₸13.4M

$31.0K ₸14.1M

-4.72%

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

$90.4 ₸41.2K

$71.2 ₸32.4K

27.04%

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

$10.95 ₸4,987

$9.80 ₸4,464

11.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ₸7,957

$11.80 ₸5,374

48.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 ₸34.2K

$44.26 ₸20.2K

69.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.3K

$18.14 ₸8,265

61.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 ₸2,879

$5.18 ₸2,361

22.01%

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

$425 ₸193.8K

$129 ₸58.6K

230.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₸39.5K

$58.8 ₸26.8K

47.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 ₸21.3K

$58.0 ₸26.4K

-19.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.4K

$75.2 ₸34.2K

85.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₸60.4K

$85.9 ₸39.1K

54.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸360.2K

$392 ₸178.3K

101.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸226.6K

$269 ₸122.6K

84.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 ₸652.3K

$709 ₸323.1K

101.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 ₸415.6K

$533 ₸242.7K

71.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,446 ₸1.1M

$1,027 ₸467.7K

138.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₸685.1K

$706 ₸321.7K

112.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$850 ₸387.0K

$565 ₸257.4K

50.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

19.25

7.06%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty versus $392 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 50% 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 $34.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $210 – 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 48%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,381 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 $45.00 in Almaty and $34.00 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 $1,364 in Almaty and $921 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 $921, than in Almaty at $1,364. 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.