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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 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 – Almaty 22% lower, Mohammedia 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.86 ₸3,837
$4.44 MAD 41.10
77.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.65 ₸19.4K
$29.83 MAD 276
32.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 ₸3,424
$6.97 MAD 64.5
0.57%
Cappuccino
$2.33 ₸1,140
$1.81 MAD 16.75
28.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸482
$0.72 MAD 6.69
37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₸278
$0.38 MAD 3.52
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 ₸681
$3.75 MAD 34.70
-62.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₸1,416
$4.36 MAD 40.34
-33.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 ₸649
$0.99 MAD 9.20
34.34%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₸273
$0.86 MAD 7.97
-34.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 ₸725
$2.01 MAD 18.63
-26.37%
Eggs
$1.72 ₸841
$2.24 MAD 20.76
-23.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.77 ₸4,770
$11.28 MAD 104
-13.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.72 ₸2,304
$6.92 MAD 64.0
-31.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.47 ₸3,650
$11.58 MAD 107
-35.49%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 ₸660
$1.56 MAD 14.46
-13.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 ₸918
$1.41 MAD 13.07
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 ₸953
$0.77 MAD 7.11
153.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 ₸976
$0.87 MAD 8.09
129.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 ₸306
$0.77 MAD 7.10
-18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₸206
$0.80 MAD 7.36
-47.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 ₸628
$0.51 MAD 4.71
152.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₸338
$0.64 MAD 5.95
7.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 ₸926
$4.43 MAD 41.00
-57.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.10 ₸4,934
$8.00 MAD 74.0
26.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₸406
$2.89 MAD 26.76
-71.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ₸1,005
$3.21 MAD 29.68
-35.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₸118
$0.69 MAD 6.40
-65.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.17 ₸8,875
$16.56 MAD 153
9.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 ₸585
$0.73 MAD 6.78
64.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₸330
$0.59 MAD 5.43
15.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.82 ₸2,353
$5.35 MAD 49.51
-9.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸232
$1.61 MAD 14.90
-70.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K ₸11.4M
$36.9K MAD 341.6K
-36.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ₸13.0M
$27.3K MAD 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
$49.23 MAD 455
26.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.53 ₸4,164
$11.24 MAD 104
-24.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.73 ₸6,707
$39.59 MAD 366
-65.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.82 ₸23.4K
$27.51 MAD 254
73.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.14 ₸10.3K
$23.48 MAD 217
-9.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37 ₸2,621
$8.80 MAD 81.4
-38.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₸128.9K
$152 MAD 1,409
73.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ₸6.3M
$5,489 MAD 50.8K
135.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6 ₸41.3K
$51.0 MAD 471
65.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.14 ₸21.6K
$52.7 MAD 488
-16.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ₸47.9K
$112 MAD 1,039
-12.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₸59.5K
$86.7 MAD 802
40.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$658 ₸321.3K
$270 MAD 2,494
143.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$420 ₸205.1K
$177 MAD 1,639
137.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 ₸581.4K
$512 MAD 4,740
132.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$766 ₸373.9K
$521 MAD 4,821
46.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,165 ₸1.1M
$1,637 MAD 15.1K
32.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,291 ₸630.5K
$1,041 MAD 9,631
23.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$767 ₸374.5K
$587 MAD 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.

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