For one person, living is cheaper in Sale: $625 a month against $1,359 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Almaty and in Sale actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,359 per month in Almaty vs $625 in Sale, rent included.
Almaty $1,359
Sale $625
A couple spends around $2,117 per month in Almaty vs $1,030 in Sale, rent included.
Almaty $2,117
Sale $1,030
A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $1,434 in Sale, rent included.
Almaty $2,876
Sale $1,434
😐
Almaty costs about 117% more than Sale, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Sale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.39₸6,054
$3.58MAD 35.03
274.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.76₸19.8K
$17.72MAD 173
146.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.75₸3,954
$7.08MAD 69.2
23.59%
Cappuccino
$3.33₸1,505
$1.82MAD 17.74
82.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25₸563
$0.53MAD 5.13
135.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90₸405
$0.30MAD 2.93
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.02₸1,363
$2.60MAD 25.46
16.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92₸1,774
$3.10MAD 30.32
26.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Sale
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69₸765
$0.88MAD 8.57
92.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98₸445
$0.62MAD 6.02
58.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07₸936
$1.95MAD 19.04
6.15%
Eggs
$2.43₸1,101
$1.89MAD 18.51
28.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86₸5,814
$11.30MAD 110
13.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.65₸3,006
$6.51MAD 63.6
2.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.67₸4,824
$12.09MAD 118
-11.75%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78₸804
$1.38MAD 13.45
28.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26₸1,020
$1.21MAD 11.83
86.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10₸1,403
$0.94MAD 9.22
229.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80₸1,266
$0.88MAD 8.65
218.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74₸336
$0.70MAD 6.88
5.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₸255
$0.73MAD 7.14
-23.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67₸756
$0.43MAD 4.19
288.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03₸464
$0.62MAD 6.03
66.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71₸1,225
$3.81MAD 37.20
-28.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.85₸4,904
$4.50MAD 43.94
141.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26₸568
$2.12MAD 20.71
-40.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37₸1,070
$2.14MAD 20.88
10.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Sale
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₸127
$0.54MAD 5.27
-48.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.82₸9,863
$22.81MAD 223
-4.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08₸487
$0.74MAD 7.21
45.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₸307
$0.53MAD 5.21
28.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.49₸2,481
$4.06MAD 39.65
35.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.67₸302
$1.46MAD 14.26
-54.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K₸13.1M
$30.3KMAD 295.8K
-4.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K₸14.1M
$29.8KMAD 291.2K
4.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Sale
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.4₸40.8K
$37.19MAD 364
142.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.52₸4,757
$10.04MAD 98.1
4.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.34₸7,836
$40.87MAD 399
-57.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Sale
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.1₸29.0K
$16.01MAD 156
300.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.37₸12.4K
$40.98MAD 401
-33.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.53₸2,950
$5.03MAD 49.19
29.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Sale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$489₸221.2K
$101MAD 986
385.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.9K₸8.6M
$5,838MAD 57.1K
224.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Sale
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0₸42.0K
$31.59MAD 309
194.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.42₸21.4K
$46.56MAD 455
1.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138₸62.5K
$71.8MAD 701
92.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130₸58.9K
$64.4MAD 629
102.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Sale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$773₸349.5K
$205MAD 1,999
277.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$495₸223.7K
$100MAD 978
394.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,393₸629.6K
$356MAD 3,478
291.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885₸400.1K
$256MAD 2,504
245.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,426₸1.1M
$1,126MAD 11.0K
115.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,565₸707.6K
$812MAD 7,936
92.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Sale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$887₸401.0K
$508MAD 4,962
74.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.38
5
307.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almaty: November 2, 2026
Last update for Sale: October 31, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$495 36.4%
Sale
$100 16% ↓ 79.8%$395
🛒Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$253 18.6%
Sale
$192 30.7% ↓ 24%$61
🍽Eating Out
Almaty
$205 15.1%
Sale
$94 15.1% ↓ 54%$111
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$184 13.5%
Sale
$96 15.4% ↓ 47.6%$88
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$118 8.7%
Sale
$88 14.1% ↓ 25.5%$30
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$77 5.7%
Sale
$26 4.2% ↓ 66.2%$51
🚌Getting Around
Almaty
$27 2%
Sale
$28 4.5% ↑ 3.5%$0.9
🏠Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$885 30.8%
Sale
$256 17.9% ↓ 71.1%$629
🛒Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$580 20.2%
Sale
$444 31% ↓ 23.4%$135
🍽Eating Out
Almaty
$636 22.1%
Sale
$270 18.8% ↓ 57.5%$366
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$409 14.2%
Sale
$214 14.9% ↓ 47.6%$194
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$129 4.5%
Sale
$98 6.8% ↓ 23.8%$31
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$182 6.3%
Sale
$93 6.5% ↓ 48.7%$88
🚌Getting Around
Almaty
$55 1.9%
Sale
$58 4% ↑ 4.4%$2.4
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $773 in Almaty versus $205 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 75% 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 $44 in Almaty versus $18 in Sale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $192 – making Sale the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Is Sale cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 117%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,039 per month in Almaty and $938 in Sale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sale, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $205 there versus $773 in Almaty.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or in Sale?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Almaty and $18 in Sale. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Sale?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,359 in Almaty and $625 in Sale. That makes Sale about 54% cheaper.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Sale?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Sale, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Almaty at $1,359. In Sale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Sale more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sale. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.