Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Karaganda Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Karaganda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Astana vs $921 in Karaganda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in Astana vs $1,460 in Karaganda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,433 per month in Astana vs $2,000 in Karaganda, rent included.

Astana costs about 17% more than Karaganda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Astana and Karaganda are more affordable than the global median – Astana 21% lower, Karaganda 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.99 ₸4,552

$9.55 ₸4,352

4.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.61 ₸16.7K

$34.35 ₸15.6K

6.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ₸3,496

$5.28 ₸2,406

45.27%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₸1,147

$1.93 ₸881

30.57%

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

$1.11 ₸505

$0.90 ₸410

23.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₸289

$0.59 ₸269

6.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ₸650

$1.33 ₸607

7.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ₸1,012

$2.90 ₸1,321

-23.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₸588

$1.24 ₸566

4.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₸260

$0.44 ₸200

29.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₸739

$1.24 ₸565

30.65%

Eggs

$2.32 ₸1,055

$1.75 ₸799

32.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.42 ₸5,203

$12.90 ₸5,876

-11.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.50 ₸2,507

$5.44 ₸2,477

1.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 ₸4,607

$10.80 ₸4,922

-6.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 ₸777

$1.50 ₸682

14.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 ₸1,076

$1.93 ₸880

22.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₸1,006

$2.76 ₸1,257

-19.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 ₸1,088

$2.06 ₸938

16.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₸342

$0.65 ₸296

15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₸209

$0.53 ₸242

-13.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 ₸685

$1.00 ₸458

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₸396

$0.71 ₸325

22.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.21 ₸1,006

$2.19 ₸998

0.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.63 ₸4,842

$7.93 ₸3,613

34.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 ₸596

$1.32 ₸600

-0.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₸1,103

$2.06 ₸938

17.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₸104

$0.21 ₸95.4

9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.48 ₸7,509

$14.94 ₸6,805

10.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 ₸1,205

$1.22 ₸554

116.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 ₸502

$1.21 ₸553

-9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 ₸2,883

$3.27 ₸1,488

93.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₸266

$0.54 ₸247

7.41%

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

$23.4K ₸10.7M

$21.5K ₸9.8M

8.95%

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

$30.7K ₸14.0M

$31.0K ₸14.1M

-0.85%

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

$65.1 ₸29.7K

$71.2 ₸32.4K

-8.53%

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

$10.26 ₸4,672

$9.80 ₸4,464

4.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.10 ₸7,789

$11.80 ₸5,374

44.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.2 ₸26.1K

$44.26 ₸20.2K

29.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 ₸9,120

$18.14 ₸8,265

10.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ₸2,798

$5.18 ₸2,361

18.53%

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

$371 ₸168.9K

$129 ₸58.6K

188.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₸5.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 ₸30.2K

$58.8 ₸26.8K

12.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.68 ₸20.8K

$58.0 ₸26.4K

-21.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₸52.5K

$75.2 ₸34.2K

53.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 ₸57.8K

$85.9 ₸39.1K

47.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₸248.5K

$392 ₸178.3K

39.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 ₸172.4K

$269 ₸122.6K

40.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 ₸525.4K

$709 ₸323.1K

62.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$750 ₸341.5K

$533 ₸242.7K

40.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,437 ₸654.8K

$1,027 ₸467.7K

40.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 ₸488.2K

$706 ₸321.7K

51.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$853 ₸388.5K

$565 ₸257.4K

50.94%

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Karaganda: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Astana versus $392 in Karaganda. 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 51% 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 $34.00 in Karaganda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $210 – making Karaganda 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 Karaganda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,081 in Astana, $921 in Karaganda – roughly 17% apart. Astana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,621 per month in Astana and $1,381 in Karaganda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karaganda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $371 per month in Astana and $129 in Karaganda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Karaganda, where all-in costs run around $921, than in Astana at $1,081. In Karaganda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $921 in Karaganda to $1,081 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Karaganda. 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.