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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,038 per month in Almaty vs $731 in Saryagash, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,678 per month in Almaty vs $1,160 in Saryagash, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,318 per month in Almaty vs $1,590 in Saryagash, rent included.

Almaty costs about 42% more than Saryagash, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Saryagash are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 23% lower, Saryagash 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 ₸3,588

$7.84 ₸3,672

-2.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.33 ₸17.9K

$27.62 ₸12.9K

38.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.92 ₸3,240

$6.66 ₸3,116

3.90%

Cappuccino

$2.32 ₸1,086

$1.84 ₸860

26.09%

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

$0.90 ₸422

$0.93 ₸434

-3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₸252

$0.49 ₸228

10.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₸652

$1.14 ₸534

21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ₸1,388

$1.91 ₸894

55.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ₸611

$1.13 ₸530

15.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₸254

$0.38 ₸179

42.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ₸726

$1.41 ₸662

9.93%

Eggs

$1.70 ₸795

$1.57 ₸736

8.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 ₸4,410

$8.71 ₸4,077

8.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.47 ₸2,092

$4.54 ₸2,127

-1.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 ₸3,519

$7.08 ₸3,313

6.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸625

$1.33 ₸623

0.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₸891

$1.95 ₸915

-2.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₸907

$1.91 ₸895

1.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 ₸980

$1.90 ₸891

10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.61 ₸288

$0.55 ₸259

10.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₸186

$0.40 ₸189

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 ₸602

$1.01 ₸471

27.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₸327

$0.77 ₸360

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸927

$1.90 ₸887

4.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.56 ₸4,007

$7.98 ₸3,733

7.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸392

$0.98 ₸457

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₸1,002

$1.53 ₸716

39.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸113

$0.19 ₸90.6

26.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.06 ₸8,451

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₸559

$1.02 ₸476

17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₸307

$0.63 ₸295

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.65 ₸2,178

$4.55 ₸2,131

2.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸226

$0.46 ₸215

4.35%

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

$23.3K ₸10.9M

$20.1K ₸9.4M

15.70%

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

$27.4K ₸12.8M

$24.1K ₸11.3M

13.63%

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

$63.3 ₸29.6K

$49.79 ₸23.3K

27.17%

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

$8.79 ₸4,112

$8.75 ₸4,094

0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.53 ₸6,333

$12.96 ₸6,064

4.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 ₸22.1K

$32.82 ₸15.4K

43.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.59 ₸10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 ₸2,401

$4.47 ₸2,092

14.77%

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

$262 ₸122.7K

$215 ₸100.4K

22.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.0K ₸6.1M

$4,956 ₸2.3M

162.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.8 ₸40.6K

$56.1 ₸26.3K

54.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.68 ₸20.9K

$34.68 ₸16.2K

28.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 ₸45.4K

$88.7 ₸41.5K

9.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸56.1K

$79.6 ₸37.2K

50.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$667 ₸312.2K

$309 ₸144.6K

115.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$422 ₸197.7K

$202 ₸94.7K

108.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 ₸544.5K

$528 ₸247.3K

120.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$759 ₸355.2K

$397 ₸186.0K

90.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,127 ₸995.6K

$1,010 ₸472.9K

110.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,298 ₸607.3K

$795 ₸372.0K

63.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$799 ₸374.0K

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Saryagash: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $656 in Almaty versus $309 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 $40 in Almaty versus $28 in Saryagash. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $172 – 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 42%, 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 $1,557 per month in Almaty and $1,096 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 $1,038 in Almaty and $731 in Saryagash. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $261 per month in Almaty and $215 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 $731, than in Almaty at $1,038. 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.