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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in Almaty vs $686 in Petropavl, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Almaty vs $1,117 in Petropavl, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,292 per month in Almaty vs $1,548 in Petropavl, rent included.

Almaty costs about 52% more than Petropavl, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Petropavl are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 22% lower, Petropavl 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.86 ₸3,837

$11.66 ₸5,695

-32.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.65 ₸19.4K

$23.57 ₸11.5K

68.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 ₸3,424

$6.75 ₸3,295

3.85%

Cappuccino

$2.33 ₸1,140

$2.11 ₸1,031

10.43%

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

$0.99 ₸482

$0.95 ₸466

4.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸278

$0.56 ₸272

1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₸681

$1.34 ₸654

3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₸1,416

$2.43 ₸1,186

19.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₸649

$0.74 ₸360

79.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 ₸273

$0.43 ₸210

30.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₸725

$1.84 ₸899

-19.57%

Eggs

$1.72 ₸841

$1.67 ₸817

2.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.77 ₸4,770

$9.32 ₸4,551

4.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.72 ₸2,304

$5.31 ₸2,595

-11.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 ₸3,650

$8.09 ₸3,953

-7.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸660

$1.31 ₸638

3.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 ₸918

$1.99 ₸974

-5.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸953

$1.82 ₸891

7.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 ₸976

$1.94 ₸948

3.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸306

$0.48 ₸233

31.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸206

$0.50 ₸246

-16.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ₸628

$0.61 ₸297

111.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₸338

$0.81 ₸394

-14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 ₸926

$2.12 ₸1,037

-10.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.10 ₸4,934

$9.99 ₸4,881

1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₸406

$0.84 ₸409

-1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₸1,005

$1.39 ₸680

48.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸118

$0.23 ₸112

4.35%

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

$0.39 ₸189

74.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.82 ₸2,353

$4.58 ₸2,239

5.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸232

$0.41 ₸201

17.07%

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

$23.3K ₸11.4M

$19.3K ₸9.4M

21.01%

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

$26.7K ₸13.0M

$23.7K ₸11.6M

12.28%

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

$62.3 ₸30.4K

$50.7 ₸24.8K

22.74%

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

$8.53 ₸4,164

$8.68 ₸4,240

-1.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.73 ₸6,707

$12.89 ₸6,296

6.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.82 ₸23.4K

$19.20 ₸9,380

149.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.14 ₸10.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.37 ₸2,621

$3.98 ₸1,941

34.92%

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

$264 ₸128.9K

$208 ₸101.8K

26.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.3M

$4,802 ₸2.3M

169.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.6 ₸41.3K

$29.79 ₸14.6K

183.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.14 ₸21.6K

$35.67 ₸17.4K

23.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ₸47.9K

$39.68 ₸19.4K

147.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₸59.5K

$76.8 ₸37.5K

58.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$658 ₸321.3K

$290 ₸141.7K

126.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸205.1K

$157 ₸76.4K

168.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,190 ₸581.4K

$516 ₸252.1K

130.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 ₸373.9K

$397 ₸194.0K

92.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,165 ₸1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,291 ₸630.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$767 ₸374.5K

$312 ₸152.1K

146.16%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Petropavl: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $658 in Almaty versus $290 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 146% 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 $24.00 in Petropavl. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $182 – 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 52%, 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 $1,565 per month in Almaty and $1,028 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 $1,043 in Almaty and $686 in Petropavl. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $264 per month in Almaty and $208 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 $686, than in Almaty at $1,043. 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.