😐A single person spends $1,043 per month in Almaty vs $799 in Mohammedia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Almaty vs $1,377 in Mohammedia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,292 per month in Almaty vs $1,956 in Mohammedia, rent included.
😐Almaty costs about 31% more than Mohammedia, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Almaty and Mohammedia are more affordable than the global median – Almaty22% lower, Mohammedia41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.86₸3,837
$4.44MAD 41.10
77.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.65₸19.4K
$29.83MAD 276
32.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.01₸3,424
$6.97MAD 64.5
0.57%
Cappuccino
$2.33₸1,140
$1.81MAD 16.75
28.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99₸482
$0.72MAD 6.69
37.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₸278
$0.38MAD 3.52
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39₸681
$3.75MAD 34.70
-62.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90₸1,416
$4.36MAD 40.34
-33.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33₸649
$0.99MAD 9.20
34.34%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56₸273
$0.86MAD 7.97
-34.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48₸725
$2.01MAD 18.63
-26.37%
Eggs
$1.72₸841
$2.24MAD 20.76
-23.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.77₸4,770
$11.28MAD 104
-13.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.72₸2,304
$6.92MAD 64.0
-31.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.47₸3,650
$11.58MAD 107
-35.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35₸660
$1.56MAD 14.46
-13.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88₸918
$1.41MAD 13.07
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95₸953
$0.77MAD 7.11
153.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00₸976
$0.87MAD 8.09
129.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63₸306
$0.77MAD 7.10
-18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₸206
$0.80MAD 7.36
-47.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29₸628
$0.51MAD 4.71
152.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69₸338
$0.64MAD 5.95
7.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90₸926
$4.43MAD 41.00
-57.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.10₸4,934
$8.00MAD 74.0
26.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₸406
$2.89MAD 26.76
-71.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06₸1,005
$3.21MAD 29.68
-35.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₸118
$0.69MAD 6.40
-65.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.17₸8,875
$16.56MAD 153
9.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20₸585
$0.73MAD 6.78
64.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₸330
$0.59MAD 5.43
15.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.82₸2,353
$5.35MAD 49.51
-9.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.48₸232
$1.61MAD 14.90
-70.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K₸11.4M
$36.9KMAD 341.6K
-36.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K₸13.0M
$27.3KMAD 252.8K
-2.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.3₸30.4K
$49.23MAD 455
26.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.53₸4,164
$11.24MAD 104
-24.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.73₸6,707
$39.59MAD 366
-65.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.82₸23.4K
$27.51MAD 254
73.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.14₸10.3K
$23.48MAD 217
-9.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37₸2,621
$8.80MAD 81.4
-38.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₸128.9K
$152MAD 1,409
73.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9K₸6.3M
$5,489MAD 50.8K
135.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6₸41.3K
$51.0MAD 471
65.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.14₸21.6K
$52.7MAD 488
-16.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0₸47.9K
$112MAD 1,039
-12.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₸59.5K
$86.7MAD 802
40.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$658₸321.3K
$270MAD 2,494
143.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$420₸205.1K
$177MAD 1,639
137.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,190₸581.4K
$512MAD 4,740
132.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$766₸373.9K
$521MAD 4,821
46.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,165₸1.1M
$1,637MAD 15.1K
32.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,291₸630.5K
$1,041MAD 9,631
23.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$767₸374.5K
$587MAD 5,426
30.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.39
4.35
322.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almaty: June 9, 2026
Last update for Mohammedia: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $658 in Almaty versus $270 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 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 $40.00 in Almaty versus $30.00 in Mohammedia. Groceries tell a different story – $187 in Almaty vs $213 in Mohammedia – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 31%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,565 per month in Almaty and $1,198 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 Mohammedia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Almaty and $30.00 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 vs Mohammedia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,043 in Almaty and $799 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 Almaty or Mohammedia?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mohammedia, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Almaty at $1,043. 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.