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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Almaty vs $685 in Petropavl, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,679 per month in Almaty vs $1,132 in Petropavl, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,291 per month in Almaty vs $1,580 in Petropavl, rent included.

Almaty costs about 56% 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

$7.92 ₸3,660

$11.93 ₸5,517

-33.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.67 ₸18.3K

$23.61 ₸10.9K

68.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 ₸3,081

$6.72 ₸3,109

-0.89%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ₸1,116

$2.16 ₸999

11.57%

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

$0.95 ₸440

$1.00 ₸464

-5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸264

$0.53 ₸244

7.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₸652

$1.33 ₸616

6.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₸1,334

$2.47 ₸1,140

17.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₸586

$0.76 ₸352

67.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₸251

$0.47 ₸217

14.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₸686

$1.82 ₸842

-18.68%

Eggs

$1.71 ₸793

$1.60 ₸740

6.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 ₸4,449

$9.37 ₸4,331

2.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 ₸2,060

$5.35 ₸2,473

-16.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.62 ₸3,526

$8.08 ₸3,735

-5.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸619

$1.25 ₸577

7.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₸878

$1.99 ₸919

-4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸874

$1.81 ₸835

4.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 ₸926

$1.96 ₸906

2.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸272

$0.48 ₸222

22.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸195

$0.48 ₸221

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸601

$0.57 ₸262

128.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₸323

$0.82 ₸378

-14.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸915

$2.06 ₸951

-3.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.46 ₸3,912

$10.49 ₸4,851

-19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸386

$0.91 ₸423

-7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₸989

$1.33 ₸615

60.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸102

$0.23 ₸107

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.79 ₸8,226

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₸526

$0.57 ₸263

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸308

$0.38 ₸177

76.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 ₸2,122

$4.62 ₸2,138

-0.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸225

$0.42 ₸194

16.67%

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

$23.2K ₸10.7M

$19.6K ₸9.1M

18.58%

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

$27.5K ₸12.7M

$23.4K ₸10.8M

17.16%

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

$62.4 ₸28.8K

$50.2 ₸23.2K

24.16%

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

$9.01 ₸4,166

$8.60 ₸3,976

4.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.41 ₸6,201

$12.69 ₸5,865

5.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.68 ₸22.0K

$19.64 ₸9,082

142.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.81 ₸10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 ₸2,366

$3.85 ₸1,779

32.99%

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

$261 ₸120.9K

$212 ₸98.2K

23.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₸5.8M

$4,875 ₸2.3M

159.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.8 ₸39.7K

$29.48 ₸13.6K

191.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 ₸20.4K

$35.01 ₸16.2K

25.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₸45.1K

$38.41 ₸17.8K

154.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸55.6K

$79.7 ₸36.8K

50.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₸302.1K

$296 ₸136.7K

121.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸192.6K

$158 ₸73.1K

163.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 ₸549.5K

$519 ₸240.0K

128.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$753 ₸348.3K

$385 ₸177.9K

95.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 ₸994.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,319 ₸609.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$816 ₸377.2K

$326 ₸150.6K

150.42%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Petropavl: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $653 in Almaty versus $296 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 150% 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. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Almaty vs $183 in Petropavl – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 56%, 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 $1,602 per month in Almaty and $1,027 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 $1,068 in Almaty and $685 in Petropavl. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $261 per month in Almaty and $212 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 $685, than in Almaty at $1,068. 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.