Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Qapshaghay Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Qapshaghay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $865 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,292 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $1,718 in Qapshaghay, rent included.

Almaty costs about 22% more than Qapshaghay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Qapshaghay are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 21% lower, Qapshaghay 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 ₸3,900

$7.97 ₸3,871

0.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.47 ₸18.7K

$19.91 ₸9,671

93.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 ₸3,387

$5.79 ₸2,812

20.38%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ₸1,164

$1.57 ₸765

52.87%

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

$0.98 ₸474

$0.89 ₸433

10.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸275

$0.54 ₸262

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸681

$0.94 ₸456

48.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ₸1,451

$1.20 ₸583

149.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸639

$1.32 ₸640

-0.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₸290

$0.56 ₸271

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₸749

$1.49 ₸726

3.36%

Eggs

$1.74 ₸844

$1.73 ₸842

0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 ₸4,731

$9.34 ₸4,536

4.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.70 ₸2,281

$4.53 ₸2,202

3.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,646

$7.70 ₸3,742

-2.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸655

$1.40 ₸678

-3.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 ₸962

$1.97 ₸958

0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 ₸949

$1.96 ₸951

-0.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ₸1,005

$2.06 ₸1,001

0.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ₸306

$0.59 ₸285

6.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸205

$0.40 ₸194

5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 ₸603

$1.25 ₸609

-0.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₸343

$0.73 ₸356

-2.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 ₸957

$1.48 ₸720

33.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 ₸4,903

$10.41 ₸5,055

-3.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₸429

$0.90 ₸438

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₸991

$2.14 ₸1,041

-4.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸117

$0.17 ₸80.9

41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 ₸8,625

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ₸562

$0.70 ₸341

65.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₸340

$0.63 ₸304

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₸2,334

$4.58 ₸2,225

4.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸237

$0.51 ₸249

-3.92%

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

$23.2K ₸11.3M

-0.09%

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

$27.2K ₸13.2M

$27.1K ₸13.1M

0.72%

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

$63.8 ₸31.0K

$63.6 ₸30.9K

0.41%

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

$8.60 ₸4,176

$8.60 ₸4,178

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.83 ₸6,718

$13.69 ₸6,648

1.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 ₸23.6K

$32.65 ₸15.9K

49.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 ₸10.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₸2,483

$5.34 ₸2,594

-4.31%

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

$267 ₸129.6K

$261 ₸126.6K

2.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.2M

$4,803 ₸2.3M

167.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 ₸40.8K

$55.6 ₸27.0K

51.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.48 ₸21.1K

$44.32 ₸21.5K

-1.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.8 ₸47.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ₸58.0K

$122 ₸59.4K

-2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 ₸323.1K

$392 ₸190.3K

69.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₸203.9K

$271 ₸131.7K

54.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₸570.8K

$642 ₸312.1K

82.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₸375.6K

$440 ₸214.0K

75.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,143 ₸1.0M

$933 ₸453.4K

129.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 ₸609.2K

$850 ₸412.8K

47.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 ₸383.5K

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 1, 2026

Last update for Qapshaghay: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $392 in Qapshaghay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Almaty versus $20.00 in Qapshaghay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $188 – making Qapshaghay 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 Qapshaghay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 22%, 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 $1,298 in Qapshaghay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qapshaghay, 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 $865 in Qapshaghay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $267 per month in Almaty and $261 in Qapshaghay. 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 Qapshaghay, where all-in costs run around $865, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Qapshaghay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qapshaghay – 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 Qapshaghay. 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.