Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Aktau Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Aktau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Astana vs $779 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in Astana vs $1,299 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,433 per month in Astana vs $1,818 in Aktau, rent included.

Astana costs about 39% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Astana and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Astana 21% lower, Aktau 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.99 ₸4,552

$10.90 ₸4,967

-8.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.61 ₸16.7K

$43.96 ₸20.0K

-16.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ₸3,496

$9.92 ₸4,521

-22.68%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₸1,147

$2.52 ₸1,146

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

$1.11 ₸505

$0.77 ₸353

44.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸289

$0.44 ₸201

43.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ₸650

$1.33 ₸607

7.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₸1,012

$1.54 ₸700

44.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₸588

$1.37 ₸625

-5.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.43 ₸195

32.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₸739

$1.86 ₸847

-12.90%

Eggs

$2.32 ₸1,056

$1.71 ₸780

35.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.42 ₸5,203

$9.88 ₸4,500

15.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 ₸2,508

$4.15 ₸1,889

32.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 ₸4,608

$8.64 ₸3,938

17.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 ₸777

$1.49 ₸678

14.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,076

$2.21 ₸1,006

6.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₸1,006

$2.26 ₸1,028

-2.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 ₸1,088

$2.82 ₸1,285

-15.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸342

$0.61 ₸277

22.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₸209

$0.52 ₸236

-11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 ₸685

$1.51 ₸687

-0.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₸396

$0.91 ₸415

-4.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ₸1,006

$2.68 ₸1,219

-17.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ₸4,843

$9.08 ₸4,137

17.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₸596

$0.71 ₸323

84.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₸1,104

$0.85 ₸389

184.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸104

$0.17 ₸79.0

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.48 ₸7,509

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 ₸1,205

$1.11 ₸507

137.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 ₸502

$0.63 ₸286

74.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 ₸2,883

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₸266

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

$23.4K ₸10.7M

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

$30.7K ₸14.0M

$29.8K ₸13.6M

2.92%

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

$65.1 ₸29.7K

$44.86 ₸20.4K

45.16%

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

$10.26 ₸4,673

$7.98 ₸3,635

28.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.10 ₸7,790

$10.45 ₸4,762

63.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 ₸26.1K

$35.08 ₸16.0K

63.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 ₸9,121

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ₸2,799

$2.95 ₸1,345

108.14%

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

$371 ₸168.9K

$139 ₸63.2K

167.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₸5.3M

$2,557 ₸1.2M

351.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 ₸30.2K

$65.1 ₸29.7K

1.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 ₸20.8K

$38.72 ₸17.6K

17.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₸52.5K

$71.2 ₸32.4K

61.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₸57.8K

$87.1 ₸39.7K

45.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₸248.5K

$326 ₸148.6K

67.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₸172.4K

$191 ₸86.9K

98.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 ₸525.5K

$538 ₸244.9K

114.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ₸341.5K

$383 ₸174.6K

95.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,437 ₸654.8K

$777 ₸354.1K

84.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 ₸488.2K

$642 ₸292.7K

66.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$853 ₸388.5K

$543 ₸247.5K

57.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.2

15.71%

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

Last update for Astana: August 29, 2026

Last update for Aktau: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Astana versus $326 in Aktau. 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 57% higher in Astana, 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 $37.00 in Astana versus $44.00 in Aktau. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Astana vs $196 in Aktau – so Aktau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Astana vs Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Astana costs about 39% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,621 per month in Astana and $1,169 in Aktau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktau, 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 $37.00 in Astana and $44.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Astana at $1,081. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $779 versus $1,081 in Astana. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Aktau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Astana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.