Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Sale Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Sale

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Almaty vs $776 in Sale, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,689 per month in Almaty vs $1,256 in Sale, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,311 per month in Almaty vs $1,736 in Sale, rent included.

Almaty costs about 37% more than Sale, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Almaty and Sale are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 20% lower, Sale 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.97 ₸3,779

$4.59 MAD 42.83

73.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.97 ₸18.5K

$32.67 MAD 305

19.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,285

$6.88 MAD 64.2

0.73%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₸1,110

$2.05 MAD 19.08

14.15%

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

$0.97 ₸461

$0.65 MAD 6.03

49.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸250

$0.40 MAD 3.75

32.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸665

$5.42 MAD 50.5

-74.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₸1,361

$4.13 MAD 38.54

-30.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₸626

$0.89 MAD 8.31

48.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 ₸281

$0.55 MAD 5.11

7.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ₸735

$1.94 MAD 18.08

-20.10%

Eggs

$1.77 ₸840

$2.07 MAD 19.27

-14.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 ₸4,467

$12.87 MAD 120

-26.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 ₸2,155

$6.26 MAD 58.4

-27.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,555

$11.61 MAD 108

-35.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸639

$1.57 MAD 14.64

-14.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸925

$1.33 MAD 12.43

46.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₸930

$0.94 MAD 8.79

108.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ₸995

$0.89 MAD 8.34

135.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸276

$0.75 MAD 6.98

-22.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸199

$0.76 MAD 7.08

-44.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₸593

$0.43 MAD 3.97

190.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸351

$0.64 MAD 5.97

15.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 ₸898

$4.29 MAD 40.05

-55.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 ₸5,010

$4.80 MAD 44.71

120.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸400

$2.74 MAD 25.50

-69.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₸983

$2.47 MAD 23.06

-16.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸114

$0.53 MAD 4.99

-54.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 ₸8,358

$24.24 MAD 226

-27.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ₸563

$0.54 MAD 5.03

120.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸337

$0.52 MAD 4.85

36.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ₸2,192

$4.29 MAD 40.01

7.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸226

$1.53 MAD 14.23

-68.63%

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

$23.7K ₸11.2M

$37.6K MAD 351.0K

-36.99%

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

$27.0K ₸12.8M

$29.8K MAD 277.7K

-9.48%

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

$63.6 ₸30.2K

$33.53 MAD 313

89.71%

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

$8.56 ₸4,057

$11.05 MAD 103

-22.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.78 ₸6,535

$46.02 MAD 429

-70.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.18 ₸22.8K

$14.63 MAD 136

229.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.54 ₸10.2K

$22.77 MAD 212

-5.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 ₸2,528

$6.51 MAD 60.7

-18.13%

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

$258 ₸122.5K

$111 MAD 1,039

131.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.1M

$6,308 MAD 58.8K

104.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.9 ₸39.8K

$41.92 MAD 391

100.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.77 ₸20.8K

$50.7 MAD 473

-13.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ₸47.0K

$106 MAD 991

-6.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₸57.2K

$98.0 MAD 914

23.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₸306.0K

$286 MAD 2,664

125.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸197.8K

$177 MAD 1,649

135.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₸553.2K

$505 MAD 4,709

131.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$764 ₸362.1K

$302 MAD 2,818

152.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,359 ₸1.1M

$1,198 MAD 11.2K

96.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 ₸651.3K

$853 MAD 7,951

61.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$795 ₸376.7K

$541 MAD 5,046

46.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

4.81

282.33%

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

Last update for Almaty: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sale: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Almaty versus $286 in Sale. 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 47% 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 $33.00 in Sale. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Almaty vs $201 in Sale – 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 Sale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,165 in Sale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sale, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Almaty and $33.00 in Sale. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,067 in Almaty and $776 in Sale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sale, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Almaty at $1,067. In Sale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sale – 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 Sale. 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.