Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Mohammedia Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Mohammedia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Almaty vs $816 in Mohammedia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Almaty vs $1,289 in Mohammedia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $1,762 in Mohammedia, rent included.

Almaty costs about 68% more than Mohammedia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Mohammedia are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Mohammedia 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.05 ₸5,880
$4.93 MAD 46.30
164.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.41 ₸20.0K
$31.57 MAD 297
40.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.66 ₸3,902
$7.56 MAD 71.1
14.55%
Cappuccino
$3.29 ₸1,485
$2.05 MAD 19.27
60.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₸603
$0.81 MAD 7.60
65.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₸368
$0.44 MAD 4.12
86.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ₸1,060
$5.42 MAD 51.0
-56.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ₸1,755
$5.39 MAD 50.7
-27.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ₸777
$1.10 MAD 10.30
56.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₸366
$1.21 MAD 11.34
-33.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 ₸925
$1.94 MAD 18.22
5.67%
Eggs
$2.42 ₸1,089
$1.95 MAD 18.36
24.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.42 ₸5,599
$11.66 MAD 110
6.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 ₸3,053
$7.16 MAD 67.3
-5.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.06 ₸4,983
$12.62 MAD 119
-12.36%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ₸868
$1.63 MAD 15.31
18.40%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 ₸1,046
$1.47 MAD 13.86
57.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 ₸1,354
$0.80 MAD 7.56
275.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.70 ₸1,217
$0.78 MAD 7.33
246.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ₸346
$0.68 MAD 6.37
13.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 ₸261
$0.76 MAD 7.11
-23.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 ₸756
$0.50 MAD 4.70
236.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸447
$0.58 MAD 5.42
70.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65 ₸1,193
$4.22 MAD 39.63
-37.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 ₸4,976
$8.42 MAD 79.1
31.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₸553
$2.81 MAD 26.41
-56.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₸1,055
$2.72 MAD 25.58
-13.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₸113
$0.72 MAD 6.81
-65.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.52 ₸9,697
$23.62 MAD 222
-8.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 ₸587
$0.77 MAD 7.25
68.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸288
$0.74 MAD 6.94
-13.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.83 ₸4,880
$4.60 MAD 43.25
135.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 ₸317
$1.55 MAD 14.54
-54.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K ₸10.0M
$35.4K MAD 332.9K
-37.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K ₸13.2M
$31.1K MAD 292.2K
-5.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.2 ₸41.1K
$50.6 MAD 475
80.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.56 ₸4,759
$10.71 MAD 101
-1.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ₸7,864
$40.15 MAD 377
-56.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.0 ₸33.8K
$29.41 MAD 276
154.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.33 ₸13.7K
$21.57 MAD 203
40.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 ₸2,968
$7.24 MAD 68.1
-8.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 ₸195.7K
$148 MAD 1,390
193.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K ₸5.3M
$5,593 MAD 52.6K
109.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4 ₸39.8K
$58.0 MAD 545
52.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.17 ₸21.3K
$49.91 MAD 469
-5.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸63.8K
$104 MAD 976
36.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 ₸59.3K
$85.4 MAD 802
54.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₸368.0K
$268 MAD 2,517
204.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ₸225.8K
$176 MAD 1,656
184.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,439 ₸648.5K
$486 MAD 4,572
195.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$901 ₸406.1K
$276 MAD 2,592
226.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,476 ₸1.1M
$1,557 MAD 14.6K
58.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,521 ₸685.3K
$1,041 MAD 9,782
46.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$857 ₸386.3K
$597 MAD 5,607
43.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.61
3.67
461.58%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mohammedia: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $268 in Mohammedia. 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 44% 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 $44.00 in Almaty versus $32.00 in Mohammedia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $220 – making Mohammedia 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 Mohammedia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mohammedia cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Almaty and $1,224 in Mohammedia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mohammedia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or in Mohammedia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Almaty and $32.00 in Mohammedia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Mohammedia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,367 in Almaty and $816 in Mohammedia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Mohammedia?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mohammedia, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Almaty at $1,367. In Mohammedia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Mohammedia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mohammedia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Almaty or Mohammedia?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mohammedia. 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.

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