Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Taraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Almaty and Taraz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,367 per month in Almaty vs $628 in Taraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,121 per month in Almaty vs $1,007 in Taraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Almaty vs $1,385 in Taraz, rent included.

Almaty costs about 118% more than Taraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Taraz are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 1% lower, Taraz 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 ₸5,880

$8.60 ₸3,875

51.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.41 ₸20.0K

$22.04 ₸9,933

101.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 ₸3,902

$6.47 ₸2,915

33.85%

Cappuccino

$3.29 ₸1,485

$1.57 ₸709

109.55%

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

$1.34 ₸603

$0.91 ₸408

47.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ₸368

$0.46 ₸206

78.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₸1,060

$1.08 ₸485

117.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ₸1,755

$1.78 ₸803

119.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ₸777

$1.09 ₸490

57.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₸366

$0.41 ₸183

97.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 ₸925

$1.34 ₸604

52.99%

Eggs

$2.42 ₸1,089

$1.73 ₸778

39.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 ₸5,599

$10.19 ₸4,592

21.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 ₸3,053

$5.16 ₸2,323

31.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.06 ₸4,983

$8.45 ₸3,810

30.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₸868

$1.20 ₸541

60.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 ₸1,046

$2.18 ₸983

6.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.00 ₸1,354

$2.57 ₸1,160

16.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 ₸1,217

$1.41 ₸634

91.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ₸346

$0.51 ₸232

50.98%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₸261

$0.40 ₸180

45.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 ₸756

$0.96 ₸434

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₸447

$0.78 ₸352

26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 ₸1,193

$2.49 ₸1,120

6.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 ₸4,976

$4.39 ₸1,978

151.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₸553

$1.04 ₸467

18.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₸1,055

$1.57 ₸710

49.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸113

$0.20 ₸89.9

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.52 ₸9,697

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 ₸587

$0.89 ₸401

46.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₸288

$0.38 ₸170

68.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.83 ₸4,880

$3.84 ₸1,731

182.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₸317

$0.64 ₸288

9.37%

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

$22.3K ₸10.0M

$27.7K ₸12.5M

-19.42%

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

$29.4K ₸13.2M

$27.4K ₸12.3M

7.24%

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

$91.2 ₸41.1K

$46.57 ₸21.0K

95.86%

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

$10.56 ₸4,759

$8.57 ₸3,861

23.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ₸7,864

$8.84 ₸3,985

97.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.0 ₸33.8K

$36.31 ₸16.4K

106.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.33 ₸13.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₸2,968

$4.35 ₸1,960

51.49%

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

$434 ₸195.7K

$57.6 ₸25.9K

654.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.4 ₸39.8K

$26.34 ₸11.9K

235.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.17 ₸21.3K

$33.85 ₸15.3K

39.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 ₸63.8K

$111 ₸50.0K

27.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 ₸59.3K

$52.9 ₸23.9K

148.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₸368.0K

$268 ₸120.8K

204.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ₸225.8K

$112 ₸50.3K

348.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,439 ₸648.5K

$437 ₸196.9K

229.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 ₸406.1K

$200 ₸90.2K

350.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,476 ₸1.1M

$836 ₸376.7K

196.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,521 ₸685.3K

$598 ₸269.5K

154.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$857 ₸386.3K

$276 ₸124.3K

210.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.61

17.83

15.59%

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

Last update for Almaty: September 7, 2026

Last update for Taraz: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $817 in Almaty versus $268 in Taraz. 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 211% 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 $22.00 in Taraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $178 – making Taraz 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 Taraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 118%, 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 $2,051 per month in Almaty and $942 in Taraz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taraz, 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 $1,367 in Almaty and $628 in Taraz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Almaty and $57.6 in Taraz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taraz, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Almaty at $1,367. In Taraz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Taraz – 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 Taraz. 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.