Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Tamarin Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Tamarin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Almaty vs $975 in Tamarin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Almaty vs $1,637 in Tamarin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $2,299 in Tamarin, rent included.

Almaty costs about 40% more than Tamarin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Almaty and Tamarin are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Tamarin 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.05 ₸5,880
$5.75 MUR 269
126.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.41 ₸20.0K
$38.48 MUR 1,801
15.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.66 ₸3,902
$7.33 MUR 343
18.14%
Cappuccino
$3.29 ₸1,485
$2.68 MUR 126
22.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 ₸603
$1.14 MUR 53.5
17.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₸368
$0.66 MUR 31.07
24.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ₸1,060
$2.65 MUR 124
-11.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 ₸1,755
$1.67 MUR 78.3
133.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ₸777
$1.56 MUR 72.9
10.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₸366
$0.20 MUR 9.35
305.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 ₸925
$1.12 MUR 52.4
83.04%
Eggs
$2.42 ₸1,089
$2.52 MUR 118
-3.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.42 ₸5,599
$3.74 MUR 175
232.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 ₸3,053
$6.45 MUR 302
5.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.06 ₸4,983
$11.25 MUR 526
-1.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 ₸868
$2.24 MUR 105
-13.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.32 ₸1,046
$2.21 MUR 103
4.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 ₸1,354
$1.41 MUR 65.8
112.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.70 ₸1,217
$3.07 MUR 144
-12.05%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 ₸346
$1.01 MUR 47.11
-23.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 ₸261
$1.00 MUR 47.03
-42.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.68 ₸756
$0.75 MUR 35.16
124.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸447
$0.82 MUR 38.46
20.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65 ₸1,193
$6.08 MUR 284
-56.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 ₸4,976
$8.49 MUR 397
30.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₸553
$1.65 MUR 77.3
-25.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₸1,055
$1.93 MUR 90.4
21.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₸113
$0.86 MUR 40.30
-70.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.52 ₸9,697
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.30 ₸587
$4.38 MUR 205
-70.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₸288
$3.23 MUR 151
-80.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.83 ₸4,880
$6.38 MUR 299
69.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 ₸317
$1.39 MUR 65.1
-49.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K ₸10.0M
$29.8K MUR 1.4M
-25.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K ₸13.2M
$31.7K MUR 1.5M
-7.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.2 ₸41.1K
$45.65 MUR 2,136
99.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.56 ₸4,759
$10.75 MUR 503
-1.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ₸7,864
$28.96 MUR 1,355
-39.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$75.0 ₸33.8K
$41.40 MUR 1,938
81.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.33 ₸13.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 ₸2,968
$6.36 MUR 298
3.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 ₸195.7K
$129 MUR 6,049
236.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K ₸5.3M
$3,051 MUR 142.8K
284.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4 ₸39.8K
$57.8 MUR 2,704
53.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.17 ₸21.3K
$47.00 MUR 2,200
0.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 ₸63.8K
$86.1 MUR 4,029
64.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 ₸59.3K
$58.3 MUR 2,730
125.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ₸368.0K
$741 MUR 34.7K
10.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ₸225.8K
$373 MUR 17.5K
34.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,439 ₸648.5K
$1,406 MUR 65.8K
2.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$901 ₸406.1K
$909 MUR 42.6K
-0.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,476 ₸1.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,521 ₸685.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$857 ₸386.3K
$846 MUR 39.6K
1.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20.61
6.67
209.00%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Last update for Tamarin: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $741 in Tamarin. 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 1% 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 $44.00 in Almaty versus $38.00 in Tamarin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $202 – making Tamarin 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 Tamarin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tamarin cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Almaty and $1,463 in Tamarin. 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 Tamarin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Tamarin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,367 in Almaty and $975 in Tamarin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Almaty and $129 in Tamarin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Almaty or in Tamarin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamarin, where all-in costs run around $975, than in Almaty at $1,367. In Tamarin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Tamarin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tamarin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Almaty or Tamarin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tamarin. 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.

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