Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Astana and Oskemen

For one person, living is cheaper in Oskemen: $908 a month against $1,131 in Astana, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Astana
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$1,131
/mo nomad
Oskemen
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
$908
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Astana and in Oskemen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Astana and in Oskemen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,131 per month in Astana vs $908 in Oskemen, rent included.

  • Astana $1,131
  • Oskemen $908

A couple spends around $1,809 per month in Astana vs $1,529 in Oskemen, rent included.

  • Astana $1,809
  • Oskemen $1,529

A family of three spends $2,486 per month in Astana vs $2,151 in Oskemen, rent included.

  • Astana $2,486
  • Oskemen $2,151

Astana costs about 25% more than Oskemen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Astana and Oskemen are more affordable than the global median – Astana 16% lower, Oskemen 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.96 ₸4,953
$13.44 ₸6,075
-18.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.48 ₸17.4K
$26.34 ₸11.9K
46.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.62 ₸3,443
$3.96 ₸1,789
92.42%
Cappuccino
$2.64 ₸1,191
$3.45 ₸1,558
-23.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₸500
$0.97 ₸440
14.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₸282
$0.56 ₸252
10.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.30 ₸586
$1.52 ₸689
-14.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ₸988
$1.68 ₸762
30.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 ₸578
$1.37 ₸619
-6.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 ₸286
$0.55 ₸251
14.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ₸741
$1.32 ₸595
24.24%
Eggs
$2.23 ₸1,007
$1.75 ₸791
27.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 ₸5,383
$10.34 ₸4,676
15.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.83 ₸2,637
$5.71 ₸2,582
2.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.46 ₸4,730
$8.01 ₸3,619
30.59%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ₸823
$1.17 ₸527
55.56%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 ₸1,046
$2.08 ₸942
11.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ₸1,001
$2.71 ₸1,226
-18.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 ₸985
$2.45 ₸1,107
-11.02%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ₸297
$0.90 ₸408
-26.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ₸208
$0.49 ₸220
-6.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 ₸694
$0.32 ₸144
381.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₸397
$1.09 ₸493
-19.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 ₸974
$2.16 ₸976
-0.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.24 ₸5,080
$4.96 ₸2,242
126.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 ₸617
$1.53 ₸692
-11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 ₸1,100
$1.62 ₸733
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₸103
$0.25 ₸112
-8.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.87 ₸7,625
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.21 ₸998
$1.08 ₸488
104.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 ₸509
$0.32 ₸147
253.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.53 ₸2,951
$2.37 ₸1,072
175.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 ₸285
$0.70 ₸315
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K ₸11.1M
$32.4K ₸14.6M
-24.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K ₸13.9M
$31.7K ₸14.3M
-3.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.5 ₸30.9K
$46.36 ₸21.0K
47.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.25 ₸4,633
$11.34 ₸5,128
-9.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.92 ₸8,101
$22.89 ₸10.3K
-21.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.5 ₸25.5K
$26.11 ₸11.8K
116.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.43 ₸9,237
$19.58 ₸8,850
4.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.52 ₸2,947
$5.12 ₸2,315
27.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$369 ₸166.9K
$66.8 ₸30.2K
453.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K ₸5.4M
$2,831 ₸1.3M
322.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.2 ₸29.9K
$113 ₸51.0K
-41.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.16 ₸20.9K
$81.8 ₸37.0K
-43.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₸53.5K
$99.2 ₸44.8K
19.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 ₸58.9K
$122 ₸55.0K
7.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$578 ₸261.5K
$337 ₸152.5K
71.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 ₸176.0K
$227 ₸102.8K
71.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,146 ₸518.1K
$675 ₸305.3K
69.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$767 ₸346.8K
$586 ₸264.7K
30.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,523 ₸688.6K
$1,137 ₸513.9K
34.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,124 ₸508.2K
$848 ₸383.2K
32.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Astana
Oskemen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$886 ₸400.7K
$816 ₸369.0K
8.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.5
19.5
-20.51%

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

Last update for Astana: October 10, 2026

Last update for Oskemen: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Astana
$389
Oskemen
$227 41.6% $162
Groceries & Markets
Astana
$227
Oskemen
$195 14% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Astana
$162
Oskemen
$187 15.1% $24
Eating Out
Astana
$160
Oskemen
$178 11.2% $18
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astana
$97
Oskemen
$81 16.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Astana
$70
Oskemen
$36 47.7% $33
Getting Around
Astana
$26
Oskemen
$3.7 * 85.6% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $578 in Astana versus $337 in Oskemen. 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 9% 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 $38.00 in Astana versus $26.00 in Oskemen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $195 – making Oskemen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇿 Astana
🇰🇿 Oskemen
🕒 Local time
11:40 11:40 AM
11:40 11:40 AM
Same time as Astana
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
814,400 Capital
354,770
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge Converter

Kazakhstani Tenge exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 452 KZT (1,000 KZT = 2.21 USD). 1 EUR = 508 KZT (1,000 KZT = 1.97 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Astana Oskemen 800 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Astana
  • Oskemen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Oskemen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Astana and in Oskemen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,131 in Astana, $908 in Oskemen – roughly 25% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.
What salary covers living expenses in Astana compared to Oskemen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,696 per month in Astana and $1,362 in Oskemen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Astana and Oskemen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oskemen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Astana and $26.00 in Oskemen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Astana, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oskemen, where all-in costs run around $908, than in Astana at $1,131. In Oskemen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Astana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Astana and Oskemen?
It depends on your priorities. Astana has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $908 in Oskemen to $1,131 in Astana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Astana or Oskemen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Astana and Oskemen?
If budget matters most, go with Oskemen. 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.

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