Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Aktobe Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Aktobe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $912 per month in Astana vs $666 in Aktobe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,422 per month in Astana vs $1,065 in Aktobe, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Astana vs $1,463 in Aktobe, rent included.

Astana costs about 37% more than Aktobe, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Astana and Aktobe are more affordable than the global median – Astana 32% lower, Aktobe 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.10 ₸3,971

$7.95 ₸3,898

1.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.85 ₸14.1K

$29.27 ₸14.3K

-1.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 ₸2,822

$6.29 ₸3,083

-8.43%

Cappuccino

$2.19 ₸1,075

$1.78 ₸873

23.03%

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

$0.91 ₸448

$1.40 ₸684

-35.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₸261

$0.49 ₸240

8.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₸559

$1.53 ₸752

-25.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₸1,444

$2.18 ₸1,068

35.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ₸496

$1.15 ₸562

-12.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₸247

$0.27 ₸133

85.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ₸686

$1.10 ₸537

27.27%

Eggs

$1.79 ₸876

$1.47 ₸719

21.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.34 ₸4,577

$8.27 ₸4,053

12.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₸2,320

$4.82 ₸2,363

-1.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 ₸3,410

$7.01 ₸3,433

-0.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.36 ₸667

$1.37 ₸670

-0.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₸915

$1.99 ₸977

-6.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₸943

$2.32 ₸1,137

-17.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 ₸968

$1.92 ₸941

2.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₸286

$0.79 ₸385

-26.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 ₸185

$0.29 ₸140

31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₸499

$0.75 ₸368

36.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₸367

$0.63 ₸311

19.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.81 ₸885

$1.83 ₸896

-1.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.14 ₸4,479

$5.05 ₸2,473

80.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₸501

$0.93 ₸454

9.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₸831

$1.54 ₸757

10.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 ₸103

$0.18 ₸86.4

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.56 ₸7,137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ₸876

$0.99 ₸485

80.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₸348

$1.03 ₸506

-31.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 ₸2,211

$4.58 ₸2,244

-1.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 ₸228

$0.49 ₸238

-4.08%

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

$20.7K ₸10.2M

$17.6K ₸8.6M

17.73%

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

$24.7K ₸12.1M

$19.3K ₸9.5M

28.05%

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

$53.9 ₸26.4K

$40.47 ₸19.8K

33.28%

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

$8.00 ₸3,922

$10.26 ₸5,028

-22.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.90 ₸6,810

$10.78 ₸5,281

28.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.83 ₸24.4K

$28.77 ₸14.1K

73.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₸5,467

$9.68 ₸4,745

15.29%

Cinema Ticket

$5.30 ₸2,595

$4.95 ₸2,428

7.07%

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

$238 ₸116.8K

$212 ₸103.7K

12.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,790 ₸2.3M

$4,966 ₸2.4M

-3.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ₸27.3K

$33.99 ₸16.7K

64.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 ₸17.1K

$29.76 ₸14.6K

17.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 ₸43.5K

$90.9 ₸44.6K

-2.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₸42.2K

$63.9 ₸31.3K

34.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₸234.2K

$225 ₸110.1K

112.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 ₸160.6K

$189 ₸92.4K

73.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 ₸415.8K

$348 ₸170.6K

143.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₸292.9K

$282 ₸138.2K

111.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,378 ₸675.4K

$775 ₸379.8K

77.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$993 ₸486.5K

$487 ₸238.6K

103.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$798 ₸391.2K

$510 ₸249.9K

56.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.12

18.39

-12.34%

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

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Last update for Aktobe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Astana versus $225 in Aktobe. 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 $29.00 in Astana versus $29.00 in Aktobe. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Astana vs $163 in Aktobe – so Aktobe 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 Aktobe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Astana is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,367 per month in Astana and $999 in Aktobe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktobe, 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 $912 in Astana and $666 in Aktobe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $238 per month in Astana and $212 in Aktobe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aktobe, where all-in costs run around $666, than in Astana at $912. In Aktobe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aktobe – 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 Aktobe. 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.