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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Almaty vs $986 in Tamarin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,679 per month in Almaty vs $1,676 in Tamarin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,291 per month in Almaty vs $2,366 in Tamarin, rent included.

Almaty costs about 8% more than Tamarin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Tamarin are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 20% lower, Tamarin 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.92 ₸3,631

$6.48 MUR 303

22.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.67 ₸18.2K

$42.52 MUR 1,988

-6.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 ₸3,057

$5.44 MUR 254

22.43%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ₸1,107

$2.54 MUR 119

-5.12%

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

$0.95 ₸437

$0.92 MUR 43.15

3.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸262

$0.55 MUR 25.77

3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₸646

$1.69 MUR 79.2

-16.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₸1,324

$1.80 MUR 84.2

60.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₸582

$1.49 MUR 69.7

-14.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₸249

$0.37 MUR 17.12

45.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₸681

$1.26 MUR 59.0

17.46%

Eggs

$1.71 ₸787

$2.14 MUR 99.9

-20.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 ₸4,415

$5.59 MUR 262

72.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 ₸2,044

$6.04 MUR 282

-26.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.62 ₸3,498

$10.06 MUR 470

-24.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸615

$1.99 MUR 93.1

-32.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₸872

$2.02 MUR 94.6

-5.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸868

$1.43 MUR 66.9

32.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 ₸919

$2.70 MUR 126

-25.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸270

$1.01 MUR 47.44

-41.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸193

$1.00 MUR 46.92

-58.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸597

$0.80 MUR 37.29

62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₸320

$0.74 MUR 34.74

-5.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸908

$6.41 MUR 300

-69.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.46 ₸3,882

$8.81 MUR 412

-3.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸383

$1.74 MUR 81.5

-51.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₸982

$1.70 MUR 79.4

25.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸101

$1.12 MUR 52.2

-80.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.79 ₸8,162

$11.13 MUR 520

59.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₸522

$4.32 MUR 202

-73.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸305

$2.62 MUR 123

-74.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 ₸2,105

$6.73 MUR 314

-31.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸224

$1.25 MUR 58.6

-60.80%

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

$23.2K ₸10.7M

$28.9K MUR 1.3M

-19.50%

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

$27.5K ₸12.6M

$27.4K MUR 1.3M

0.20%

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

$62.4 ₸28.6K

$48.56 MUR 2,270

28.46%

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

$9.01 ₸4,134

$16.37 MUR 765

-44.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.41 ₸6,153

$30.26 MUR 1,415

-55.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.68 ₸21.9K

$49.33 MUR 2,306

-3.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.81 ₸10.0K

$10.95 MUR 512

99.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 ₸2,347

$6.02 MUR 281

-14.95%

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

$261 ₸119.9K

$150 MUR 6,998

74.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₸5.8M

$3,109 MUR 145.3K

306.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.8 ₸39.4K

$58.1 MUR 2,714

47.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 ₸20.2K

$47.77 MUR 2,233

-7.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₸44.8K

$86.8 MUR 4,058

12.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸55.2K

$58.1 MUR 2,714

107.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₸299.8K

$756 MUR 35.3K

-13.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸191.1K

$386 MUR 18.0K

7.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 ₸545.2K

$1,426 MUR 66.7K

-16.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$753 ₸345.6K

$921 MUR 43.1K

-18.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 ₸986.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,319 ₸605.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$816 ₸374.3K

$861 MUR 40.3K

-5.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

206.50%

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

Last update for Almaty: April 26, 2026

Last update for Tamarin: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $653 in Almaty versus $756 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 6% 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 $43.00 in Tamarin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $198 – 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

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 8%, 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 $1,602 per month in Almaty and $1,480 in Tamarin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Almaty and $43.00 in Tamarin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,068 in Almaty and $986 in Tamarin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamarin, where all-in costs run around $986, than in Almaty at $1,068. In Tamarin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.