Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Kostanay Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Kostanay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,080 per month in Almaty vs $954 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Almaty vs $1,384 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,304 per month in Almaty vs $1,813 in Kostanay, rent included.

Almaty costs about 13% more than Kostanay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Almaty and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 19% lower, Kostanay 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 ₸3,713

$7.62 ₸3,583

3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.58 ₸18.1K

$24.91 ₸11.7K

54.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₸3,250

$6.33 ₸2,973

9.32%

Cappuccino

$2.43 ₸1,140

$2.30 ₸1,082

5.65%

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

$0.99 ₸464

$1.03 ₸483

-3.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸246

$0.80 ₸377

-35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸638

$1.72 ₸810

-20.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,385

$3.26 ₸1,531

-9.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸616

$0.95 ₸448

37.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸258

$0.44 ₸206

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ₸715

$1.16 ₸545

31.03%

Eggs

$1.76 ₸828

$1.78 ₸835

-1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 ₸4,542

$7.70 ₸3,618

25.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,197

$5.26 ₸2,473

-11.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 ₸3,613

$8.36 ₸3,930

-8.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ₸655

$1.30 ₸611

6.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸900

$1.91 ₸899

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸914

$1.30 ₸612

49.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ₸970

$1.29 ₸607

59.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸275

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ₸202

$0.24 ₸113

79.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸612

$0.96 ₸451

35.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸346

$0.87 ₸408

-14.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 ₸912

$2.21 ₸1,037

-12.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₸5,010

$7.84 ₸3,683

35.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸386

$1.01 ₸474

-18.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₸990

$2.72 ₸1,278

-22.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸113

$0.28 ₸131

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 ₸8,617

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸566

$1.02 ₸479

17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸335

$1.06 ₸497

-33.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ₸2,177

$5.76 ₸2,706

-19.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₸245

$0.49 ₸231

6.12%

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

$23.6K ₸11.1M

$29.7K ₸14.0M

-20.61%

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

$27.4K ₸12.9M

$26.1K ₸12.3M

4.77%

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

$62.4 ₸29.3K

$72.6 ₸34.1K

-14.03%

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

$8.56 ₸4,022

$9.65 ₸4,537

-11.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,535

$10.88 ₸5,112

27.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 ₸22.0K

$39.74 ₸18.7K

17.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.46 ₸10.1K

$17.31 ₸8,134

23.97%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ₸2,445

$3.71 ₸1,743

40.16%

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

$268 ₸125.8K

$186 ₸87.3K

44.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K ₸6.1M

$5,680 ₸2.7M

129.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 ₸39.9K

$105 ₸49.2K

-18.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ₸20.9K

$56.3 ₸26.5K

-21.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 ₸46.7K

$114 ₸53.6K

-12.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.3K

$102 ₸48.1K

17.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 ₸302.4K

$385 ₸180.8K

67.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸199.7K

$330 ₸155.2K

28.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 ₸544.0K

$529 ₸248.8K

118.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₸364.5K

$425 ₸199.7K

82.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₸1.1M

$1,137 ₸534.4K

107.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,364 ₸640.9K

$899 ₸422.8K

51.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$834 ₸392.0K

$626 ₸294.4K

33.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

18.5

-0.59%

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

Last update for Almaty: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $643 in Almaty versus $385 in Kostanay. 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 33% 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 $25.00 in Kostanay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $172 – making Kostanay 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 Kostanay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,432 in Kostanay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostanay, 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 $954 in Kostanay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $268 per month in Almaty and $186 in Kostanay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostanay, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Almaty at $1,080. In Kostanay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kostanay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kostanay. 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.