Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Oskemen Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Oskemen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $736 in Oskemen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,188 in Oskemen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $1,639 in Oskemen, rent included.

Almaty costs about 44% more than Oskemen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 21% lower, Oskemen 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 ₸3,911

$3.95 ₸1,926

103.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 ₸18.7K

$18.49 ₸9,007

108.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,396

$3.43 ₸1,673

103.21%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,167

$2.00 ₸975

20.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₸475

$0.80 ₸388

22.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸276

$0.52 ₸254

9.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸683

$1.34 ₸655

4.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₸1,455

$1.45 ₸706

106.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸640

$1.09 ₸533

20.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸291

$0.43 ₸211

39.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸751

$1.14 ₸556

35.09%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸847

$1.60 ₸777

8.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₸4,744

$7.66 ₸3,730

27.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 ₸2,288

$4.37 ₸2,130

7.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,656

$6.81 ₸3,319

10.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸657

$1.15 ₸561

17.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸964

$1.81 ₸884

9.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸951

$2.38 ₸1,161

-18.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸1,008

$2.57 ₸1,250

-19.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸306

$0.61 ₸296

3.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸205

$0.47 ₸227

-10.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸604

$0.30 ₸148

313.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸344

$0.73 ₸357

-2.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸960

$1.99 ₸969

-1.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₸4,917

$4.65 ₸2,265

116.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸431

$1.33 ₸649

-33.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₸993

$1.50 ₸730

36.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸117

$0.21 ₸102

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,649

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸564

$1.01 ₸494

14.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸341

$0.29 ₸141

141.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,341

$2.12 ₸1,034

126.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸238

$0.46 ₸224

6.52%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.2K ₸11.3M

$28.1K ₸13.7M

-17.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K ₸13.3M

$27.0K ₸13.2M

0.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.8 ₸31.1K

$41.44 ₸20.2K

54.03%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.60 ₸4,188

$9.96 ₸4,851

-13.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.83 ₸6,737

$16.59 ₸8,082

-16.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₸23.7K

$23.36 ₸11.4K

108.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.3K

$17.33 ₸8,444

22.56%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,490

$4.38 ₸2,134

16.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$267 ₸130.0K

$58.3 ₸28.4K

357.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.3M

$2,510 ₸1.2M

412.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 ₸40.9K

$119 ₸58.0K

-29.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₸21.2K

$82.8 ₸40.3K

-47.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 ₸47.2K

$98.0 ₸47.7K

-1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₸58.2K

$94.0 ₸45.8K

27.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 ₸324.0K

$331 ₸161.4K

100.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸204.4K

$221 ₸107.7K

89.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₸572.4K

$537 ₸261.7K

118.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₸376.7K

$468 ₸227.8K

65.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 ₸1.0M

$1,008 ₸491.2K

112.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 ₸610.9K

$778 ₸378.8K

61.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 ₸384.6K

$751 ₸366.1K

5.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

-3.21%

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

Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $331 in Oskemen. 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 5% 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 $38.00 in Almaty versus $18.00 in Oskemen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $162 – making Oskemen 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 Oskemen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,586 per month in Almaty and $1,104 in Oskemen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oskemen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,057 in Almaty and $736 in Oskemen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Almaty and $58.3 in Oskemen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oskemen, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Oskemen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Oskemen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Oskemen. 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.