Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Saryagash Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Saryagash

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,080 per month in Almaty vs $738 in Saryagash, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,692 per month in Almaty vs $1,169 in Saryagash, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,304 per month in Almaty vs $1,600 in Saryagash, rent included.

Almaty costs about 46% more than Saryagash, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Saryagash are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 19% lower, Saryagash 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 ₸3,706

$8.04 ₸3,771

-1.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.58 ₸18.1K

$27.74 ₸13.0K

39.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₸3,244

$6.42 ₸3,011

7.79%

Cappuccino

$2.43 ₸1,138

$1.85 ₸867

31.35%

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

$0.99 ₸463

$0.92 ₸431

7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₸246

$0.49 ₸228

6.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₸637

$1.20 ₸565

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,382

$1.84 ₸862

60.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸615

$1.12 ₸527

16.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₸257

$0.38 ₸180

44.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ₸713

$1.41 ₸663

7.80%

Eggs

$1.76 ₸826

$1.60 ₸752

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.66 ₸4,533

$8.90 ₸4,174

8.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 ₸2,193

$4.64 ₸2,177

0.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 ₸3,606

$6.97 ₸3,268

10.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ₸654

$1.29 ₸605

7.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ₸898

$1.89 ₸887

1.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸912

$1.98 ₸928

-2.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ₸968

$1.97 ₸926

4.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸274

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 ₸201

$0.37 ₸175

16.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸611

$1.02 ₸477

27.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸345

$0.71 ₸331

4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.94 ₸910

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₸5,000

$8.13 ₸3,816

31.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸386

$1.00 ₸468

-18.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₸988

$1.57 ₸739

34.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸113

$0.23 ₸106

4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 ₸8,600

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸565

$0.97 ₸454

23.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸334

$0.68 ₸318

4.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ₸2,173

$4.76 ₸2,233

-2.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₸244

$0.47 ₸218

10.64%

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

$23.6K ₸11.1M

$20.2K ₸9.5M

16.51%

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

$27.4K ₸12.8M

$24.8K ₸11.6M

10.40%

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

$62.4 ₸29.3K

$49.28 ₸23.1K

26.70%

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

$8.56 ₸4,014

$8.58 ₸4,025

-0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,522

$12.80 ₸6,005

8.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 ₸22.0K

$33.40 ₸15.7K

40.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.46 ₸10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ₸2,440

$4.52 ₸2,122

15.04%

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

$268 ₸125.5K

$213 ₸100.0K

25.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K ₸6.1M

$4,880 ₸2.3M

166.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.9 ₸39.8K

$55.9 ₸26.2K

51.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ₸20.9K

$35.49 ₸16.6K

25.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.5 ₸46.7K

$87.3 ₸41.0K

13.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.2K

$78.8 ₸37.0K

51.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$643 ₸301.8K

$311 ₸145.8K

106.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 ₸199.3K

$200 ₸94.0K

111.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 ₸543.0K

$525 ₸246.3K

120.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 ₸363.8K

$394 ₸184.9K

96.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,362 ₸1.1M

$1,045 ₸490.0K

126.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,364 ₸639.7K

$852 ₸399.7K

60.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$834 ₸391.2K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Saryagash: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $643 in Almaty versus $311 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 $39.00 in Almaty versus $28.00 in Saryagash. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $173 – making Saryagash 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 Saryagash: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 46%, 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 $1,620 per month in Almaty and $1,106 in Saryagash. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saryagash, 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 $1,080 in Almaty and $738 in Saryagash. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $268 per month in Almaty and $213 in Saryagash. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Saryagash, where all-in costs run around $738, than in Almaty at $1,080. In Saryagash it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Saryagash. 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.