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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Almaty vs $816 in Mohammedia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,689 per month in Almaty vs $1,384 in Mohammedia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,311 per month in Almaty vs $1,952 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 20% lower, Mohammedia 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.97 ₸3,797
$4.35 MAD 40.85
83.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.97 ₸18.6K
$29.74 MAD 279
31.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.93 ₸3,301
$7.31 MAD 68.6
-5.20%
Cappuccino
$2.34 ₸1,115
$1.89 MAD 17.71
23.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 ₸463
$0.71 MAD 6.68
36.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₸251
$0.38 MAD 3.57
39.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.40 ₸668
$3.90 MAD 36.58
-64.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₸1,367
$4.51 MAD 42.32
-36.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 ₸629
$0.99 MAD 9.26
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 ₸283
$0.87 MAD 8.12
-32.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ₸739
$2.01 MAD 18.84
-22.89%
Eggs
$1.77 ₸844
$2.19 MAD 20.55
-19.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 ₸4,488
$11.44 MAD 107
-17.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.54 ₸2,165
$7.13 MAD 66.9
-36.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.50 ₸3,572
$11.77 MAD 110
-36.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 ₸642
$1.56 MAD 14.66
-13.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 ₸929
$1.43 MAD 13.42
36.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 ₸935
$0.78 MAD 7.35
151.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ₸1,000
$0.83 MAD 7.75
153.01%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ₸277
$0.72 MAD 6.76
-19.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₸200
$0.75 MAD 7.06
-44.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₸596
$0.50 MAD 4.71
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₸353
$0.61 MAD 5.76
21.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89 ₸903
$4.41 MAD 41.34
-57.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.57 ₸5,034
$8.53 MAD 80.0
23.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ₸402
$2.90 MAD 27.23
-71.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₸988
$3.31 MAD 31.02
-37.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₸115
$0.67 MAD 6.33
-64.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.63 ₸8,398
$16.68 MAD 157
5.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₸565
$0.80 MAD 7.55
48.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 ₸339
$0.58 MAD 5.43
22.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 ₸2,203
$5.42 MAD 50.9
-14.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸227
$1.54 MAD 14.45
-68.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K ₸11.3M
$37.2K MAD 348.8K
-36.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ₸12.8M
$26.8K MAD 251.9K
0.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.6 ₸30.3K
$50.5 MAD 474
26.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.56 ₸4,076
$11.14 MAD 105
-23.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.78 ₸6,566
$40.26 MAD 378
-65.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.18 ₸22.9K
$26.91 MAD 252
79.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.54 ₸10.3K
$23.36 MAD 219
-7.79%
Cinema Ticket
$5.33 ₸2,540
$8.83 MAD 82.9
-39.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$258 ₸123.0K
$154 MAD 1,444
67.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ₸6.2M
$5,487 MAD 51.5K
135.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.9 ₸39.9K
$52.0 MAD 488
61.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.77 ₸20.8K
$53.0 MAD 497
-17.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 ₸47.2K
$111 MAD 1,039
-10.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₸57.5K
$88.5 MAD 830
36.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 ₸307.5K
$272 MAD 2,549
137.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$417 ₸198.7K
$172 MAD 1,610
143.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 ₸555.8K
$512 MAD 4,803
127.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$764 ₸363.8K
$511 MAD 4,799
49.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,359 ₸1.1M
$1,637 MAD 15.4K
44.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,374 ₸654.4K
$1,030 MAD 9,660
33.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Mohammedia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$795 ₸378.5K
$577 MAD 5,418
37.61%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mohammedia: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Almaty versus $272 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 38% 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 $30.00 in Mohammedia. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Almaty vs $215 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 $1,601 per month in Almaty and $1,223 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 $39.00 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 and in Mohammedia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,067 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 $1,067. 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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