Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and OralCost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Oral
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,043 per month in Almaty vs $767 in Oral, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Almaty vs $1,155 in Oral, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,292 per month in Almaty vs $1,543 in Oral, rent included.
😐Almaty costs about 36% more than Oral, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Almaty and Oral are more affordable than the global median – Almaty22% lower, Oral43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Oral
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.86₸3,837
$7.27₸3,552
8.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.65₸19.4K
$30.07₸14.7K
31.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.01₸3,424
$7.32₸3,574
-4.23%
Cappuccino
$2.33₸1,140
$1.64₸800
42.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99₸482
$0.85₸416
16.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₸278
$0.51₸251
11.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39₸681
$0.81₸393
71.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90₸1,416
$1.73₸845
67.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Oral
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33₸649
$1.30₸634
2.31%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56₸273
$0.40₸197
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48₸725
$1.44₸705
2.78%
Eggs
$1.72₸841
$1.35₸659
27.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.77₸4,770
$7.72₸3,772
26.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.72₸2,304
$3.81₸1,861
23.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.47₸3,650
$9.84₸4,806
-24.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35₸660
$1.06₸518
27.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88₸918
$1.80₸877
4.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95₸953
$2.03₸989
-3.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00₸976
$2.94₸1,437
-31.97%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63₸306
$0.37₸183
70.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₸206
$0.31₸152
35.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29₸628
$0.63₸306
104.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69₸338
$1.01₸494
-31.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90₸926
$1.88₸918
1.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.10₸4,934
$7.08₸3,460
42.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₸406
$0.58₸283
43.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06₸1,005
$1.59₸778
29.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Oral
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₸118
$0.22₸106
9.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.17₸8,875
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20₸585
$0.61₸296
96.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₸330
$0.64₸310
6.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.82₸2,353
$4.58₸2,239
5.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.48₸232
$0.50₸244
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K₸11.4M
$20.1K₸9.8M
16.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K₸13.0M
$24.6K₸12.0M
8.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Oral
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.3₸30.4K
$72.6₸35.5K
-14.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.53₸4,164
$8.00₸3,906
6.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.73₸6,707
$12.60₸6,153
8.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Oral
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.82₸23.4K
$69.2₸33.8K
-30.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.14₸10.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.37₸2,621
$2.95₸1,440
82.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Oral
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₸128.9K
$209₸101.9K
26.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9K₸6.3M
$4,870₸2.4M
165.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Oral
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6₸41.3K
$29.20₸14.3K
189.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.14₸21.6K
$34.88₸17.0K
26.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0₸47.9K
$89.9₸43.9K
9.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122₸59.5K
$76.8₸37.5K
58.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Oral
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$658₸321.3K
$252₸123.1K
161.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$420₸205.1K
$186₸90.8K
125.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,190₸581.4K
$402₸196.4K
196.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$766₸373.9K
$273₸133.3K
180.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,165₸1.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,291₸630.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Oral
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$767₸374.5K
$398₸194.3K
92.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.39
18.39
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almaty: June 9, 2026
Last update for Oral: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $658 in Almaty versus $252 in Oral. 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 93% 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 Oral. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $175 – making Oral 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 Oral: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oral cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,151 in Oral. 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 Oral, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty vs Oral?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,043 in Almaty and $767 in Oral. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Almaty and $209 in Oral. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Almaty or Oral?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Oral, where all-in costs run around $767, than in Almaty at $1,043. In Oral it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Oral more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Oral – 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 Oral?
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 Oral. 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.