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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $936 in Kostanay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,435 in Kostanay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $1,933 in Kostanay, rent included.

Almaty costs about 46% more than Kostanay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Kostanay are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Kostanay 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 ₸5,887

$5.45 ₸2,484

137.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 ₸20.5K

$28.71 ₸13.1K

56.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 ₸3,921

$7.19 ₸3,276

19.75%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₸1,433

$2.13 ₸972

47.89%

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

$1.33 ₸605

$1.15 ₸522

15.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸372

$0.83 ₸378

-1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ₸1,105

$1.39 ₸634

74.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₸1,784

$2.53 ₸1,151

54.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₸750

$1.24 ₸565

33.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸367

$0.48 ₸219

68.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ₸950

$1.03 ₸469

101.94%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,049

$2.20 ₸1,002

4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₸5,570

$10.03 ₸4,568

21.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₸3,032

$5.70 ₸2,599

16.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ₸4,888

$8.59 ₸3,913

24.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₸843

$1.58 ₸722

17.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,075

$2.26 ₸1,032

4.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,320

$1.88 ₸854

54.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₸1,262

$2.27 ₸1,034

22.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸343

$0.54 ₸246

38.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.62 ₸281

-8.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₸727

$1.19 ₸541

34.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸441

$0.92 ₸417

5.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,172

$2.41 ₸1,097

6.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 ₸4,899

$8.05 ₸3,669

33.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₸533

$1.10 ₸500

6.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,084

$2.30 ₸1,047

3.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸114

$0.32 ₸144

-21.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.05 ₸9,589

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸604

$0.94 ₸427

41.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸288

$1.06 ₸484

-40.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,970

$5.85 ₸2,664

86.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₸307

$0.54 ₸246

24.07%

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

$26.2K ₸11.9M

$30.6K ₸14.0M

-14.40%

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

$29.5K ₸13.4M

$29.1K ₸13.3M

1.25%

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

$90.4 ₸41.2K

$75.3 ₸34.3K

20.06%

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

$10.95 ₸4,988

$10.72 ₸4,883

2.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ₸7,958

$15.65 ₸7,128

11.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 ₸34.2K

$46.28 ₸21.1K

62.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.3K

$19.86 ₸9,048

47.48%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 ₸2,879

$4.20 ₸1,913

50.48%

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

$425 ₸193.8K

$207 ₸94.3K

105.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

$6,436 ₸2.9M

80.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₸39.5K

$92.3 ₸42.0K

-6.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 ₸21.3K

$52.7 ₸24.0K

-11.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.4K

$106 ₸48.5K

30.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₸60.4K

$89.3 ₸40.7K

48.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸360.2K

$388 ₸176.9K

103.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸226.7K

$304 ₸138.4K

63.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 ₸652.4K

$580 ₸264.4K

146.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 ₸415.6K

$471 ₸214.8K

93.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,446 ₸1.1M

$1,190 ₸541.9K

105.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₸685.2K

$910 ₸414.6K

65.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$850 ₸387.0K

$646 ₸294.5K

31.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

18.5

11.41%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Last update for Kostanay: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty versus $388 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 31% 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 $29.00 in Kostanay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $200 – 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 46%, 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 $1,404 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 $1,364 in Almaty and $936 in Kostanay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Almaty and $207 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 $936, than in Almaty at $1,364. 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.