Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Saryagash

For one person, living is cheaper in Saryagash: $881 a month against $1,359 in Almaty, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Almaty, Kazakhstan
Saryagash, Kazakhstan
Almaty
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,359
/mo nomad
Saryagash
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$881
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Almaty and in Saryagash

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 Saryagash actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,359 per month in Almaty vs $881 in Saryagash, rent included.

  • Almaty $1,359
  • Saryagash $881

A couple spends around $2,117 per month in Almaty vs $1,429 in Saryagash, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,117
  • Saryagash $1,429

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $1,977 in Saryagash, rent included.

  • Almaty $2,876
  • Saryagash $1,977

Almaty costs about 54% more than Saryagash, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.39 ₸6,037
$9.71 ₸4,379
37.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.76 ₸19.7K
$33.93 ₸15.3K
28.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.75 ₸3,944
$7.73 ₸3,486
13.20%
Cappuccino
$3.33 ₸1,501
$2.38 ₸1,071
39.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 ₸562
$1.06 ₸478
17.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₸404
$0.59 ₸268
52.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.02 ₸1,359
$1.30 ₸586
132.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 ₸1,769
$2.08 ₸939
88.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 ₸763
$1.38 ₸624
22.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 ₸444
$0.48 ₸217
104.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 ₸934
$1.58 ₸711
31.01%
Eggs
$2.43 ₸1,098
$1.76 ₸794
38.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 ₸5,798
$10.31 ₸4,647
24.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.65 ₸2,998
$5.76 ₸2,598
15.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 ₸4,811
$8.92 ₸4,023
19.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 ₸802
$1.47 ₸662
21.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 ₸1,018
$2.20 ₸992
2.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 ₸1,399
$2.34 ₸1,055
32.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.80 ₸1,262
$2.19 ₸989
27.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 ₸335
$0.71 ₸318
4.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 ₸255
$0.52 ₸235
7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.67 ₸754
$1.20 ₸542
39.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₸462
$0.98 ₸442
5.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71 ₸1,222
$2.46 ₸1,108
10.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.85 ₸4,890
$7.91 ₸3,566
37.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 ₸566
$1.18 ₸534
6.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₸1,067
$1.97 ₸888
20.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₸127
$0.21 ₸94.6
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.82 ₸9,836
$16.91 ₸7,624
29.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 ₸486
$1.09 ₸493
-0.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₸306
$0.76 ₸343
-10.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.49 ₸2,474
$6.08 ₸2,740
-9.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.67 ₸301
$0.64 ₸287
4.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K ₸13.1M
$28.1K ₸12.7M
3.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K ₸14.0M
$30.3K ₸13.7M
2.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.4 ₸40.7K
$67.4 ₸30.4K
34.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.52 ₸4,744
$10.10 ₸4,551
4.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.34 ₸7,815
$15.76 ₸7,105
10.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.1 ₸28.9K
$42.34 ₸19.1K
51.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.37 ₸12.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.53 ₸2,942
$5.09 ₸2,296
28.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$489 ₸220.6K
$145 ₸65.6K
236.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.9K ₸8.5M
$4,404 ₸2.0M
329.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0 ₸41.9K
$57.3 ₸25.8K
62.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.42 ₸21.4K
$45.68 ₸20.6K
3.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 ₸62.3K
$94.6 ₸42.6K
46.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 ₸58.7K
$89.9 ₸40.5K
44.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$773 ₸348.5K
$344 ₸155.2K
124.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$495 ₸223.1K
$231 ₸104.3K
113.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,393 ₸627.9K
$670 ₸302.1K
107.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$885 ₸399.0K
$495 ₸223.1K
78.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,426 ₸1.1M
$1,085 ₸488.9K
123.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,565 ₸705.7K
$855 ₸385.5K
83.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Saryagash
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₸399.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.38
19.25
5.87%

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

Last update for Almaty: November 2, 2026

Last update for Saryagash: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Almaty
$495
Saryagash
$231 53.2% $263
Groceries & Markets
Almaty
$253
Saryagash
$205 18.9% $48
Eating Out
Almaty
$205
Saryagash
$147 28.4% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
$184
Saryagash
$129 29.7% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
$118
Saryagash
$93 21.1% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
$77
Saryagash
$53 31.9% $25
Getting Around
Almaty
$27
Saryagash
$23 17.4% $4.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $773 in Almaty versus $344 in Saryagash. 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 $44 in Almaty versus $34 in Saryagash. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $205 – making Saryagash the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Almaty
🇰🇿 Saryagash
🕒 Local time
11:10 11:10 AM
11:10 11:10 AM
Same time as Almaty
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,475,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 451 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 506 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Almaty Saryagash 670 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Almaty
  • Saryagash

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 Saryagash: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saryagash cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 54%, 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 $1,321 in Saryagash. 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 Saryagash, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $344 there versus $773 in Almaty.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or in Saryagash?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Almaty and $34 in Saryagash. 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 Saryagash?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,359 in Almaty and $881 in Saryagash. That makes Saryagash about 35% cheaper.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Saryagash?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Saryagash, where all-in costs run around $881, than in Almaty at $1,359. In Saryagash it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Saryagash more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Saryagash – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Saryagash is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 35% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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