Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Petropavl Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Petropavl

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Almaty vs $680 in Petropavl, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,689 per month in Almaty vs $1,135 in Petropavl, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,311 per month in Almaty vs $1,590 in Petropavl, rent included.

Almaty costs about 57% more than Petropavl, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Petropavl are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 20% lower, Petropavl 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.97 ₸3,779

$11.56 ₸5,482

-31.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.97 ₸18.5K

$23.34 ₸11.1K

66.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,285

$6.67 ₸3,164

3.90%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₸1,110

$2.18 ₸1,033

7.34%

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

$0.97 ₸461

$0.97 ₸460

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸250

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸665

$1.41 ₸667

-0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₸1,361

$2.37 ₸1,124

21.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₸626

$0.78 ₸368

69.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 ₸281

$0.43 ₸205

37.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ₸735

$1.75 ₸828

-11.43%

Eggs

$1.77 ₸840

$1.59 ₸756

11.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 ₸4,467

$9.32 ₸4,419

1.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 ₸2,155

$5.51 ₸2,613

-17.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,555

$8.15 ₸3,863

-7.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸639

$1.30 ₸617

3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸925

$2.00 ₸949

-2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₸930

$1.81 ₸857

8.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ₸995

$1.89 ₸896

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸276

$0.49 ₸231

18.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸199

$0.51 ₸242

-17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₸593

$0.61 ₸288

104.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸351

$0.81 ₸386

-8.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 ₸898

$2.07 ₸983

-8.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 ₸5,010

$7.39 ₸3,506

43.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸400

$0.85 ₸402

-1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₸983

$1.35 ₸640

53.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸114

$0.21 ₸99.4

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 ₸8,358

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ₸563

$0.61 ₸288

95.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸337

$0.42 ₸197

69.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ₸2,192

$4.82 ₸2,284

-4.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸226

$0.41 ₸196

17.07%

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

$23.7K ₸11.2M

$19.4K ₸9.2M

22.38%

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

$27.0K ₸12.8M

$23.8K ₸11.3M

13.06%

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

$63.6 ₸30.2K

$50.5 ₸23.9K

26.09%

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

$8.56 ₸4,057

$8.66 ₸4,105

-1.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.78 ₸6,535

$12.69 ₸6,014

8.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.18 ₸22.8K

$19.93 ₸9,447

141.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.54 ₸10.2K

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 ₸2,528

$3.98 ₸1,885

33.92%

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

$258 ₸122.5K

$215 ₸102.0K

20.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.1M

$4,930 ₸2.3M

161.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.9 ₸39.8K

$29.67 ₸14.1K

182.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.77 ₸20.8K

$34.76 ₸16.5K

25.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ₸47.0K

$39.34 ₸18.7K

151.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₸57.2K

$77.2 ₸36.6K

56.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₸306.0K

$294 ₸139.5K

119.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸197.8K

$159 ₸75.2K

163.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₸553.2K

$518 ₸245.5K

125.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$764 ₸362.1K

$394 ₸186.7K

93.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,359 ₸1.1M

$827 ₸392.0K

185.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 ₸651.3K

$932 ₸441.8K

47.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$795 ₸376.7K

$285 ₸135.2K

178.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

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

Last update for Almaty: July 26, 2026

Last update for Petropavl: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Almaty versus $294 in Petropavl. 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 179% 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 $23.00 in Petropavl. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $177 – making Petropavl 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 Petropavl: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,601 per month in Almaty and $1,019 in Petropavl. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Petropavl, 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 $1,067 in Almaty and $680 in Petropavl. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $258 per month in Almaty and $215 in Petropavl. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Petropavl, where all-in costs run around $680, than in Almaty at $1,067. In Petropavl it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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.

If budget matters most, go with Petropavl. 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.