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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Almaty vs $555 in Taraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,689 per month in Almaty vs $888 in Taraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,311 per month in Almaty vs $1,222 in Taraz, rent included.

Almaty costs about 92% 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

$7.97 ₸3,797

$5.98 ₸2,851

33.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.97 ₸18.6K

$19.85 ₸9,454

96.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.93 ₸3,301

$5.96 ₸2,840

16.28%

Cappuccino

$2.34 ₸1,115

$1.41 ₸670

65.96%

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

$0.97 ₸463

$0.76 ₸362

27.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸251

$0.41 ₸195

29.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 ₸668

$1.20 ₸570

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 ₸1,367

$1.52 ₸724

88.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₸629

$0.95 ₸451

38.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 ₸283

$0.37 ₸178

59.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ₸739

$1.19 ₸567

30.25%

Eggs

$1.77 ₸844

$1.75 ₸832

1.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.42 ₸4,488

$8.98 ₸4,278

4.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 ₸2,165

$4.55 ₸2,167

-0.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.50 ₸3,572

$7.17 ₸3,416

4.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 ₸642

$1.30 ₸618

3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ₸929

$1.89 ₸902

3.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₸935

$1.92 ₸913

2.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ₸1,000

$1.89 ₸903

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸277

$0.59 ₸282

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₸200

$0.37 ₸178

13.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ₸596

$0.99 ₸473

26.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸353

$0.72 ₸345

2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 ₸903

$1.98 ₸941

-4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 ₸5,034

$4.32 ₸2,060

144.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₸402

$0.98 ₸465

-14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₸988

$1.58 ₸753

31.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₸115

$0.18 ₸88.0

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.63 ₸8,398

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ₸565

$0.82 ₸390

45.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸339

$0.38 ₸181

86.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 ₸2,203

$3.42 ₸1,629

35.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 ₸227

$0.42 ₸199

14.29%

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

$23.7K ₸11.3M

$19.8K ₸9.4M

19.55%

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

$27.0K ₸12.8M

$21.5K ₸10.3M

25.18%

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

$63.6 ₸30.3K

$51.1 ₸24.3K

24.51%

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

$8.56 ₸4,076

$8.04 ₸3,830

6.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.78 ₸6,566

$7.63 ₸3,637

80.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.18 ₸22.9K

$32.56 ₸15.5K

47.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.54 ₸10.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 ₸2,540

$3.98 ₸1,897

33.92%

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

$258 ₸123.0K

$215 ₸102.3K

20.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₸6.2M

$4,961 ₸2.4M

160.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.9 ₸39.9K

$23.25 ₸11.1K

260.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.77 ₸20.8K

$39.75 ₸18.9K

10.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ₸47.2K

$98.0 ₸46.7K

1.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ₸57.5K

$58.4 ₸27.8K

106.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₸307.5K

$232 ₸110.7K

177.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₸198.7K

$96.2 ₸45.8K

333.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₸555.8K

$394 ₸187.7K

196.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$764 ₸363.8K

$173 ₸82.4K

341.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,359 ₸1.1M

$805 ₸383.4K

193.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 ₸654.4K

$567 ₸269.9K

142.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$795 ₸378.5K

$264 ₸125.6K

201.36%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Taraz: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Almaty versus $232 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 201% 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 $39.00 in Almaty versus $20.00 in Taraz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 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 92%, 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 $1,601 per month in Almaty and $833 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 $1,067 in Almaty and $555 in Taraz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $258 per month in Almaty and $215 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 $555, than in Almaty at $1,067. 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.