Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Alga Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Alga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,124 in Astana versus $834 in Alga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,819 in Astana versus $1,393 in Alga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,514 in Astana versus $1,952 in Alga.

Living in Astana is roughly 35% more expensive than in Alga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Astana 18% lower, Alga 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.49 ₸4,729

$9.51 ₸4,285

10.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.23 ₸16.8K

$32.68 ₸14.7K

13.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 ₸3,426

$7.35 ₸3,313

3.40%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₸1,152

$2.14 ₸966

19.63%

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

$1.13 ₸507

$1.06 ₸479

6.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₸288

$0.55 ₸247

16.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₸580

$1.35 ₸609

-4.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₸979

$2.11 ₸953

2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ₸564

$1.24 ₸558

0.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₸259

$0.42 ₸190

35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 ₸819

$1.51 ₸680

20.53%

Eggs

$2.23 ₸1,004

$1.66 ₸747

34.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.53 ₸5,197

$9.99 ₸4,502

15.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.68 ₸2,559

$5.53 ₸2,491

2.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 ₸4,746

$8.61 ₸3,878

22.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 ₸812

$1.47 ₸664

22.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 ₸1,108

$2.19 ₸988

12.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 ₸1,000

$2.29 ₸1,031

-3.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 ₸1,074

$2.15 ₸968

10.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸338

$0.68 ₸306

10.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₸202

$0.51 ₸231

-11.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 ₸687

$1.17 ₸529

29.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₸388

$0.96 ₸434

-10.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 ₸982

$2.34 ₸1,053

-6.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.06 ₸4,983

$7.71 ₸3,475

43.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₸598

$1.18 ₸531

12.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ₸1,072

$1.89 ₸853

25.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₸113

$0.21 ₸94.2

19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.49 ₸7,431

$16.90 ₸7,615

-2.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 ₸1,164

$1.05 ₸472

145.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 ₸501

$0.70 ₸316

58.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ₸2,923

$5.88 ₸2,648

10.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 ₸293

$0.63 ₸282

3.17%

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

$24.2K ₸10.9M

$26.3K ₸11.8M

-7.84%

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

$29.9K ₸13.5M

$30.5K ₸13.7M

-1.85%

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

$66.7 ₸30.0K

$63.7 ₸28.7K

4.70%

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

$9.82 ₸4,423

$10.03 ₸4,520

-2.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.73 ₸7,991

$15.28 ₸6,883

16.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.0 ₸26.1K

$41.30 ₸18.6K

40.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.39 ₸9,190

Cinema Ticket

$6.25 ₸2,817

$4.74 ₸2,134

31.86%

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

$376 ₸169.5K

$138 ₸62.3K

172.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K ₸5.3M

$4,421 ₸2.0M

167.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 ₸30.2K

$53.6 ₸24.1K

24.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.46 ₸20.5K

$44.18 ₸19.9K

2.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₸52.6K

$90.7 ₸40.9K

28.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₸57.4K

$88.2 ₸39.7K

44.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 ₸253.3K

$342 ₸153.9K

64.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 ₸171.4K

$224 ₸100.8K

70.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,170 ₸527.0K

$655 ₸295.2K

78.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$775 ₸349.2K

$487 ₸219.2K

59.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,499 ₸675.6K

$1,065 ₸479.8K

40.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,116 ₸502.8K

$849 ₸382.6K

31.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$852 ₸383.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.2

19.25

-15.84%

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

Last update for Astana: September 7, 2026

Last update for Alga: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $562 in Astana and $342 in Alga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Astana vs $33.00 in Alga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $198 per month, with Alga cheaper across the board.

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 Alga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alga wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Astana. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,687 in Astana and $1,251 in Alga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $562 in Astana versus $342 in Alga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,124 per month in Astana versus $834 in Alga – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alga runs roughly 2% less than in Astana. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $834 in Alga versus $1,124 in Astana, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Alga but tight or insufficient in Astana. The gap between the two cities makes Alga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Alga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $834 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alga hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Astana and Alga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Alga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Astana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.