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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $892 per month in Astana vs $692 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Astana vs $1,180 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,961 per month in Astana vs $1,668 in Aktau, rent included.

Astana costs about 29% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Astana and Aktau are more affordable than the global median – Astana 33% lower, Aktau 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.27 ₸3,889

$9.66 ₸4,540

-14.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.74 ₸14.0K

$39.51 ₸18.6K

-24.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 ₸2,697

$8.76 ₸4,118

-34.47%

Cappuccino

$2.22 ₸1,045

$2.27 ₸1,067

-2.20%

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

$0.91 ₸429

$0.52 ₸244

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₸266

$0.40 ₸189

42.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₸557

$1.19 ₸561

-0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 ₸1,413

$1.36 ₸639

121.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 ₸456

$1.16 ₸543

-16.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.46 ₸219

$0.41 ₸194

12.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 ₸650

$1.64 ₸771

-15.85%

Eggs

$1.69 ₸794

$1.37 ₸646

23.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 ₸4,460

$8.69 ₸4,084

9.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.83 ₸2,269

$4.02 ₸1,888

20.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 ₸3,281

$7.88 ₸3,704

-11.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 ₸643

$1.34 ₸629

2.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₸863

$2.06 ₸967

-10.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₸895

$2.11 ₸991

-9.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 ₸886

$2.54 ₸1,195

-25.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 ₸262

$0.59 ₸279

-5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸176

$0.51 ₸240

-27.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 ₸449

$1.35 ₸634

-28.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₸349

$0.85 ₸401

-12.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 ₸895

$2.41 ₸1,131

-21.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.54 ₸4,482

$8.96 ₸4,209

6.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₸455

$0.65 ₸305

49.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₸789

$0.81 ₸380

107.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸108

$0.14 ₸63.5

64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.80 ₸6,955

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₸844

$0.95 ₸445

89.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸333

$0.63 ₸295

12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 ₸2,028

$4.78 ₸2,248

-9.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 ₸239

$0.46 ₸216

10.87%

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

$20.3K ₸9.5M

$20.5K ₸9.6M

-0.88%

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

$25.2K ₸11.9M

$24.2K ₸11.4M

4.38%

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

$53.3 ₸25.0K

$41.02 ₸19.3K

29.81%

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

$8.34 ₸3,918

$7.82 ₸3,677

6.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.70 ₸6,438

$9.36 ₸4,401

46.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 ₸24.0K

$32.08 ₸15.1K

58.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ₸5,150

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 ₸2,454

$2.68 ₸1,261

94.78%

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

$239 ₸112.3K

$127 ₸59.8K

88.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,800 ₸2.3M

$2,363 ₸1.1M

103.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 ₸27.0K

$59.0 ₸27.7K

-2.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.08 ₸16.5K

$34.97 ₸16.4K

0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 ₸41.2K

$62.6 ₸29.4K

39.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 ₸41.2K

$77.5 ₸36.4K

13.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ₸219.4K

$246 ₸115.7K

89.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 ₸151.6K

$181 ₸85.2K

78.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$860 ₸404.3K

$455 ₸213.8K

89.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₸276.0K

$369 ₸173.3K

59.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,409 ₸662.3K

$747 ₸351.2K

88.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,013 ₸476.3K

$616 ₸289.3K

64.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$845 ₸397.2K

$529 ₸248.7K

59.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

101.50%

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

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Last update for Aktau: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Astana versus $246 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 60% 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 $30.00 in Astana versus $40.00 in Aktau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $179 – making Astana 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

Astana vs Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Astana costs about 29% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,338 per month in Astana and $1,038 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 $30.00 in Astana and $40.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Astana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $892 in Astana and $692 in Aktau, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $692 versus $892 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.