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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Almaty vs $562 in Taraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,679 per month in Almaty vs $884 in Taraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,291 per month in Almaty vs $1,206 in Taraz, rent included.

Almaty costs about 90% more than Taraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Almaty and Taraz are more affordable than the global median – Almaty 20% lower, Taraz 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.92 ₸3,631

$5.98 ₸2,745

32.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.67 ₸18.2K

$19.50 ₸8,947

103.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 ₸3,057

$5.80 ₸2,662

14.83%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ₸1,107

$1.35 ₸617

78.52%

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

$0.95 ₸437

$0.76 ₸349

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸262

$0.37 ₸171

54.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₸646

$1.19 ₸547

18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₸1,324

$1.60 ₸733

80.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₸582

$1.00 ₸458

27.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 ₸249

$0.38 ₸174

42.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₸681

$1.14 ₸522

29.82%

Eggs

$1.71 ₸787

$1.75 ₸803

-2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.62 ₸4,415

$8.89 ₸4,080

8.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 ₸2,044

$4.57 ₸2,096

-2.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.62 ₸3,498

$7.03 ₸3,224

8.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.34 ₸615

$1.30 ₸597

3.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₸872

$1.98 ₸907

-4.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₸868

$1.99 ₸911

-5.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 ₸919

$1.95 ₸893

2.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸270

$0.55 ₸254

7.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸193

$0.37 ₸171

13.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₸597

$0.92 ₸423

41.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₸320

$0.71 ₸328

-1.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸908

$1.93 ₸884

2.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.46 ₸3,882

$4.46 ₸2,048

89.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸383

$0.93 ₸425

-9.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₸982

$1.58 ₸724

35.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₸101

$0.18 ₸83.0

22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.79 ₸8,162

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 ₸522

$0.77 ₸351

48.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ₸305

$0.41 ₸188

63.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 ₸2,105

$3.44 ₸1,580

33.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 ₸224

$0.42 ₸194

16.67%

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

$23.2K ₸10.7M

$19.8K ₸9.1M

17.34%

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

$27.5K ₸12.6M

$21.9K ₸10.0M

25.59%

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

$62.4 ₸28.6K

$49.21 ₸22.6K

26.76%

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

$9.01 ₸4,134

$7.61 ₸3,493

18.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.41 ₸6,153

$7.73 ₸3,546

73.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.68 ₸21.9K

$31.95 ₸14.7K

49.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.81 ₸10.0K

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 ₸2,347

$3.83 ₸1,757

33.68%

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

$261 ₸119.9K

$214 ₸98.1K

22.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₸5.8M

$4,924 ₸2.3M

156.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.8 ₸39.4K

$23.66 ₸10.9K

262.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 ₸20.2K

$39.83 ₸18.3K

10.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₸44.8K

$98.9 ₸45.4K

-1.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₸55.2K

$57.9 ₸26.6K

107.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 ₸299.8K

$238 ₸109.2K

174.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸191.1K

$97.7 ₸44.8K

326.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,188 ₸545.2K

$385 ₸176.7K

208.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$753 ₸345.6K

$172 ₸79.1K

336.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 ₸986.6K

$834 ₸382.5K

157.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,319 ₸605.1K

$592 ₸271.5K

122.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$816 ₸374.3K

$277 ₸127.2K

194.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

16.25

13.17%

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

Last update for Almaty: April 26, 2026

Last update for Taraz: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $653 in Almaty versus $238 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 194% 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 $40.00 in Almaty versus $20.00 in Taraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $163 – 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 90%, 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 $843 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 $1,068 in Almaty and $562 in Taraz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $261 per month in Almaty and $214 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 $562, than in Almaty at $1,068. 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.