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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Almaty vs $992 in Tamarin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,689 per month in Almaty vs $1,697 in Tamarin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,311 per month in Almaty vs $2,402 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 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.97 ₸3,797
$6.59 MUR 311
20.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.97 ₸18.6K
$42.54 MUR 2,009
-8.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.93 ₸3,301
$5.37 MUR 254
29.05%
Cappuccino
$2.34 ₸1,115
$2.58 MUR 122
-9.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 ₸463
$0.92 MUR 43.27
5.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₸251
$0.61 MUR 28.75
-13.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.40 ₸668
$1.62 MUR 76.3
-13.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ₸1,367
$1.77 MUR 83.8
62.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 ₸629
$1.53 MUR 72.4
-13.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.59 ₸283
$0.37 MUR 17.32
59.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ₸739
$1.33 MUR 63.0
16.54%
Eggs
$1.77 ₸844
$2.18 MUR 103
-18.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 ₸4,488
$5.61 MUR 265
67.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.54 ₸2,165
$6.33 MUR 299
-28.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.50 ₸3,572
$9.93 MUR 469
-24.47%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 ₸642
$1.98 MUR 93.6
-31.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 ₸929
$1.97 MUR 93.0
-1.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 ₸935
$1.44 MUR 68.1
36.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ₸1,000
$2.71 MUR 128
-22.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ₸277
$0.95 MUR 45.01
-38.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.42 ₸200
$0.95 MUR 45.00
-55.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ₸596
$0.80 MUR 37.99
56.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₸353
$0.81 MUR 38.17
-8.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89 ₸903
$6.77 MUR 320
-72.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.57 ₸5,034
$8.47 MUR 400
24.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ₸402
$1.80 MUR 85.0
-53.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₸988
$1.62 MUR 76.3
27.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₸115
$1.12 MUR 52.7
-78.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.63 ₸8,398
$11.17 MUR 528
57.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ₸565
$4.30 MUR 203
-72.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 ₸339
$2.64 MUR 124
-73.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 ₸2,203
$6.78 MUR 320
-31.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.48 ₸227
$1.31 MUR 62.0
-63.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K ₸11.3M
$28.9K MUR 1.4M
-17.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ₸12.8M
$27.5K MUR 1.3M
-1.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.6 ₸30.3K
$48.69 MUR 2,299
30.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.56 ₸4,076
$16.10 MUR 760
-46.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.78 ₸6,566
$29.81 MUR 1,408
-53.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.18 ₸22.9K
$50.5 MUR 2,384
-4.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.54 ₸10.3K
$11.17 MUR 527
92.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.33 ₸2,540
$6.16 MUR 291
-13.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$258 ₸123.0K
$151 MUR 7,137
70.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K ₸6.2M
$3,192 MUR 150.7K
304.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.9 ₸39.9K
$59.1 MUR 2,792
41.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.77 ₸20.8K
$47.47 MUR 2,241
-7.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 ₸47.2K
$87.8 MUR 4,148
12.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ₸57.5K
$58.9 MUR 2,780
105.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 ₸307.5K
$756 MUR 35.7K
-14.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$417 ₸198.7K
$380 MUR 17.9K
9.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 ₸555.8K
$1,435 MUR 67.8K
-18.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$764 ₸363.8K
$952 MUR 44.9K
-19.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,359 ₸1.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,374 ₸654.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Tamarin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$795 ₸378.5K
$831 MUR 39.3K
-4.44%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Tamarin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 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 5% 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 $39.00 in Almaty versus $43.00 in Tamarin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $199 – 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 8%, 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 $1,601 per month in Almaty and $1,488 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 in Tamarin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Almaty and $43.00 in Tamarin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty and in Tamarin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,067 in Almaty and $992 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 living in Almaty or in Tamarin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tamarin, where all-in costs run around $992, than in Almaty at $1,067. 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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