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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in Almaty vs $1,024 in Tamarin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Almaty vs $1,710 in Tamarin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,292 per month in Almaty vs $2,396 in Tamarin, rent included.

Almaty costs about 2% more than Tamarin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Tamarin are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 22% lower, Tamarin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.86 ₸3,837
$6.47 MUR 304
21.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.65 ₸19.4K
$41.92 MUR 1,974
-5.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 ₸3,424
$5.51 MUR 260
27.22%
Cappuccino
$2.33 ₸1,140
$2.58 MUR 122
-9.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₸482
$0.84 MUR 39.63
17.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₸278
$0.59 MUR 27.92
-3.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 ₸681
$1.69 MUR 79.7
-17.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₸1,416
$1.73 MUR 81.7
67.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 ₸649
$1.49 MUR 70.0
-10.74%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 ₸273
$0.40 MUR 18.77
40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 ₸725
$1.31 MUR 61.8
12.98%
Eggs
$1.72 ₸841
$2.11 MUR 99.5
-18.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.77 ₸4,770
$5.35 MUR 252
82.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.72 ₸2,304
$6.24 MUR 294
-24.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.47 ₸3,650
$9.62 MUR 453
-22.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 ₸660
$2.07 MUR 97.6
-34.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 ₸918
$1.97 MUR 92.7
-4.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 ₸953
$1.46 MUR 68.7
33.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 ₸976
$2.67 MUR 126
-25.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 ₸306
$1.02 MUR 48.09
-38.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₸206
$0.98 MUR 46.33
-57.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 ₸628
$0.78 MUR 36.82
65.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₸338
$0.81 MUR 37.96
-14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 ₸926
$6.49 MUR 306
-70.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.10 ₸4,934
$8.44 MUR 397
19.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₸406
$1.71 MUR 80.5
-51.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ₸1,005
$1.62 MUR 76.1
27.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₸118
$1.18 MUR 55.5
-79.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.17 ₸8,875
$10.99 MUR 517
65.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 ₸585
$4.47 MUR 211
-73.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 ₸330
$2.74 MUR 129
-75.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.82 ₸2,353
$6.69 MUR 315
-27.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸232
$1.31 MUR 61.6
-63.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K ₸11.4M
$28.3K MUR 1.3M
-17.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ₸13.0M
$27.4K MUR 1.3M
-2.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ₸30.4K
$49.29 MUR 2,321
26.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.53 ₸4,164
$16.05 MUR 756
-46.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.73 ₸6,707
$30.43 MUR 1,433
-54.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.82 ₸23.4K
$50.9 MUR 2,396
-6.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.14 ₸10.3K
$11.10 MUR 523
90.45%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37 ₸2,621
$6.12 MUR 288
-12.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 ₸128.9K
$153 MUR 7,186
72.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ₸6.3M
$3,115 MUR 146.7K
315.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6 ₸41.3K
$59.2 MUR 2,789
42.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.14 ₸21.6K
$47.35 MUR 2,230
-6.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ₸47.9K
$87.1 MUR 4,103
12.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 ₸59.5K
$59.3 MUR 2,794
105.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$658 ₸321.3K
$781 MUR 36.8K
-15.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$420 ₸205.1K
$388 MUR 18.3K
8.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 ₸581.4K
$1,452 MUR 68.4K
-17.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$766 ₸373.9K
$925 MUR 43.6K
-17.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,165 ₸1.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,291 ₸630.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$767 ₸374.5K
$851 MUR 40.1K
-9.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.39
6
206.50%

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

Last update for Almaty: June 9, 2026

Last update for Tamarin: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $658 in Almaty versus $781 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 11% higher in Tamarin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Almaty versus $42.00 in Tamarin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $196 – making Almaty 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 2%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,565 per month in Almaty and $1,536 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or Tamarin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Almaty and $42.00 in Tamarin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty vs Tamarin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,043 in Almaty and $1,024 in Tamarin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Almaty or Tamarin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamarin, where all-in costs run around $1,024, than in Almaty at $1,043. 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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