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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,364 per month in Almaty vs $883 in Oskemen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,124 per month in Almaty vs $1,501 in Oskemen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Almaty vs $2,118 in Oskemen, rent included.

Almaty costs about 54% more than Oskemen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Almaty and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Oskemen 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.92 ₸5,887

$13.12 ₸5,977

-1.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.03 ₸20.5K

$26.18 ₸11.9K

72.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 ₸3,921

$3.96 ₸1,803

117.42%

Cappuccino

$3.15 ₸1,433

$3.40 ₸1,547

-7.35%

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

$1.33 ₸605

$1.01 ₸462

31.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸372

$0.53 ₸242

54.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ₸1,105

$1.54 ₸703

57.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ₸1,784

$1.65 ₸752

137.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₸749

$1.41 ₸644

17.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸367

$0.53 ₸242

52.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ₸949

$1.33 ₸607

56.39%

Eggs

$2.30 ₸1,049

$1.76 ₸800

30.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₸5,570

$9.71 ₸4,423

25.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₸3,032

$5.88 ₸2,679

13.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 ₸4,887

$7.92 ₸3,609

35.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₸843

$1.15 ₸524

60.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,075

$1.95 ₸890

21.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 ₸1,320

$2.53 ₸1,151

14.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.77 ₸1,261

$2.42 ₸1,100

14.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸343

$0.86 ₸392

-12.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.48 ₸221

18.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 ₸727

$0.34 ₸156

370.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸441

$1.07 ₸489

-9.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₸1,172

$2.18 ₸995

17.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.75 ₸4,898

$4.75 ₸2,165

126.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₸533

$1.43 ₸652

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,084

$1.66 ₸756

43.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸114

$0.26 ₸119

-3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.05 ₸9,588

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 ₸604

$1.09 ₸498

22.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₸288

$0.31 ₸142

103.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.91 ₸4,969

$2.42 ₸1,100

350.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₸307

$0.63 ₸289

6.35%

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

$26.2K ₸11.9M

$31.5K ₸14.4M

-16.84%

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

$29.5K ₸13.4M

$30.7K ₸14.0M

-3.97%

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

$90.4 ₸41.2K

$44.52 ₸20.3K

103.14%

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

$10.95 ₸4,987

$11.31 ₸5,153

-3.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ₸7,957

$22.60 ₸10.3K

-22.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 ₸34.2K

$25.89 ₸11.8K

190.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.29 ₸13.3K

$19.64 ₸8,949

49.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 ₸2,879

$4.90 ₸2,230

28.98%

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

$425 ₸193.8K

$65.9 ₸30.0K

545.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₸5.3M

$2,790 ₸1.3M

316.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₸39.5K

$113 ₸51.5K

-23.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.71 ₸21.3K

$80.8 ₸36.8K

-42.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₸63.4K

$97.4 ₸44.4K

42.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₸60.4K

$121 ₸55.3K

9.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 ₸360.2K

$336 ₸152.9K

135.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₸226.6K

$222 ₸101.3K

123.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 ₸652.3K

$641 ₸292.1K

123.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$912 ₸415.6K

$572 ₸260.6K

59.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,446 ₸1.1M

$1,109 ₸505.2K

120.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,504 ₸685.1K

$805 ₸366.9K

86.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$850 ₸387.0K

$784 ₸357.0K

8.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

19.5

5.69%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 1, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Almaty versus $336 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 8% 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 $45.00 in Almaty versus $26.00 in Oskemen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $192 – 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 54%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,046 per month in Almaty and $1,325 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 $1,364 in Almaty and $883 in Oskemen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Almaty and $65.9 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 $883, than in Almaty at $1,364. 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.